A newly-wed man accused of abetting his wife's suicide in an alleged dowry harassment case died by suicide in a hotel room in Nagpur, while his mother also attempted suicide but survived, police said on Saturday.
The incident has highlighted the tragic fallout of a case that unfolded across two cities and left two families devastated.
The victim has been identified as Suraj Shivanna, aged around 35, a resident of BEL Layout in Vidyaranyapura locality of Bengaluru.
Police said Suraj was found hanging from a ceiling fan late Friday night at a hotel on Wardha Road in Nagpur.
His 60-year-old mother, Jayanti Shivanna, was found unconscious in the same room after she too attempted suicide. She was rushed to hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The sequence of events began earlier this week in Bengaluru after Suraj and his wife, identified as Ganavi, had been married for barely one-and-a-half months and were living together in Vidyaranyapura.
On Thursday, Ganavi allegedly attempted suicide at their home. She later died during treatment.
Following her death, her parents lodged a complaint accusing Suraj and his family of dowry harassment, leading to a case of abetment of suicide being registered against him.
The woman's family also staged a protest demanding strict action.
According to police, Suraj and his mother left Bengaluru soon after the case was filed, fearing arrest and alleging threats from the Ganavi's relatives.
They travelled first to Hyderabad and later reached Nagpur on December 26, where they checked into a hotel. Suraj's younger brother, Sanjay, was also with them.
Senior Inspector Nitin Magar of Sonegaon police station said hotel staff alerted police after discovering the incident.
"Suraj Shivanna hanged himself from a ceiling fan in the hotel room. After learning about her son's death, his mother, Jayanti, attempted suicide but was saved," he said. "She has been admitted to a hospital and is out of danger".
Suraj's body was sent for post-mortem examination, while police recorded the statement of his brother.
"A case of accidental death has been registered for now, and we are coordinating with Bengaluru police regarding the abetment case," the officer added.
Police are conducting inquiries with regard to the matter and further investigation is underway.
A tragic series of events has unfolded involving a young couple from Bengaluru, culminating in two suicides and a 1,000 km cross-state journey that ended in Nagpur on December 26–27, 2025.
Timeline of the Tragedy
December 22 (Bengaluru): Ganavi S, a 26-year-old MBA graduate, was found hanging at her parental home in East Bengaluru. This occurred just six weeks after her wedding to Suraj Shivanna on October 29.
December 25 (The Flight): Following Ganavi's death, her family filed an FIR against Suraj and his family, alleging dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Fearing arrest and reporting threats from the in-laws, Suraj, his mother Jayanti (60), and his brother Sanjay fled Bengaluru.
December 26 (Nagpur): After a stopover in Hyderabad, the family reached Nagpur and checked into a hotel on Wardha Road around 9:30 PM.
December 27 (Post-Midnight): Suraj was found dead by suicide in his hotel room. Devastated, his mother Jayanti also attempted to take her own life but was rescued after the noose snapped. She is currently stable and receiving treatment at AIIMS Nagpur.
Key Background Details
Honeymoon Conflict: The couple had traveled to Sri Lanka for a 10-day honeymoon earlier in December. However, the trip was cut short after five days due to heated arguments regarding revelations about Ganavi’s past relationships.
Dowry Allegations vs. Counter-Claims: Ganavi’s father alleged that they were pressured into a lavish wedding reception costing ₹40 lakh and that the harassment continued during the honeymoon. Conversely, Suraj’s brother Sanjay has denied all dowry demands, claiming the family fled Bengaluru because a mob of nearly 30 people had stormed their house.
Current Status
Legal Action: Nagpur's Sonegaon police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and are coordinating with the Bengaluru police, who are investigating the initial abetment case.
Autopsy: Suraj's autopsy report is awaited to confirm the circumstances of his death.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You can contact the national helpline ‘KIRAN’ at 1800-599-0019 or local Bengaluru helplines like SAHAI (080-25497777).
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