The death of 27-year-old Delhi Police SWAT commando Kajal Chaudhary has sparked outrage, with her family alleging brutal dowry-related torture by her husband and in-laws. Kajal, who was part of Delhi Police’s all-women SWAT team, died on January 27 after suffering severe head injuries following an alleged assault by her husband, Ankur Chaudhary.
According to her family, Kajal was repeatedly harassed for dowry despite substantial gifts given at the time of marriage in November 2023. Her father, Rakesh Chaudhary, said the family provided a Bullet motorcycle, gold jewellery, and cash, but the demands continued. He alleged that Ankur’s family insisted that a car should also have been given and that the harassment did not stop even after Kajal arranged for one.
Kajal’s mother claimed that the family spent nearly ₹20 lakh on the wedding and even took loans to meet the demands. She also alleged that Ankur had taken ₹5 lakh from Kajal and continued to subject her to mental and physical abuse. “My daughter suffered a lot. I want justice,” she said.
At the time of the alleged attack on January 22, Kajal was four months pregnant. Her brother, Nikhil, alleged that Ankur slammed her head against a door frame and struck her with a dumbbell, causing critical injuries. He also claimed that he heard his sister’s screams over the phone during the assault.
Doctors later declared Kajal brain-dead, and she succumbed to her injuries days later. Following her death, police upgraded the charge against Ankur from attempted murder to murder. He is currently in police custody.
The case has once again brought national attention to the issue of dowry-related violence, with women’s rights groups and citizens demanding strict action and speedy justice for the slain commando.
