Vizag techie's husband arrested in connection with her death in Mussoorie
A Visakhapatnam-based techie, P Radha Gayatri, was found dead in a Mussoorie homestay on June 15, 2026. Initially, her husband, Soumya Shricharan, claimed it was a health issue, but her family alleged foul play and dowry harassment. Following an investigation and a magisterial inquiry, Shricharan was arrested and charged with murder.
Key Highlights
- Techie P Radha Gayatri found dead in Mussoorie homestay on June 15, 2026.
- Husband Soumya Shricharan initially claimed accidental death.
- Gayatri's family alleged foul play, dowry harassment, and control.
- Husband arrested; murder and dowry death charges filed.
- Magisterial inquiry ordered due to unclear cause of death.
- Viscera samples sent for toxicological analysis.
The mysterious death of P. Radha Gayatri, a 27-year-old software engineer from Visakhapatnam, in a Mussoorie homestay on June 15, 2026, has led to the arrest of her husband, Soumya Shricharan. Initially, Shricharan claimed that Gayatri died due to a health issue after they had consumed alcohol. However, Gayatri's family strongly suspected foul play and alleged dowry harassment, citing controlling behavior by Shricharan, including the use of a tracking device in her laptop bag..
The couple had traveled from Delhi to Rishikesh on June 13, 2026, and then proceeded to Mussoorie, checking into the Kiyana Homestay on the night of June 14. According to Shricharan's statement, they consumed alcohol and went to sleep around 3:30 AM. He claimed that he woke up later to find his wife unresponsive, lying naked on the floor with blood oozing from her nose and mouth, and urine on the floor..
Mussoorie police were alerted around 7:30 AM on June 15, and medical personnel at the scene declared Gayatri dead. The scene in the room included bloodstains on the bedsheet and two empty liquor bottles.. A forensic team collected evidence, and a videographed post-mortem was ordered. However, the post-mortem examination failed to establish the exact cause of death, and the report stated the cause as 'reserved' with viscera samples preserved for toxicological and histopathological analysis..
Gayatri's family, originally from Visakhapatnam, expressed their suspicions and demanded a thorough investigation. Her father, P. Sudhakar, a retired army man, stated that his daughter, a teetotaller, would not have consumed alcohol. He alleged that Shricharan had been harassing Gayatri for months and had also administered her drugs to make her unconscious before killing her.. The family also raised concerns about the post-mortem process and the events that transpired in the absence of Gayatri's parents..
Following the complaint from Gayatri's family, Mussoorie police registered a case under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Soumya Shricharan.. The Dehradun district administration ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death, with the Sub-divisional Magistrate of Mussoorie appointed as the inquiry officer..
Shricharan, who had reportedly absconded, was arrested in New Delhi on July 11, 2026, after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him.. He was produced before a court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.. The police also registered a case under BNS section 80(2) (dowry death), with the victim's father providing evidence of dowry demands.. The district court in Dehradun rejected Shricharan's anticipatory bail plea..
The Times of India (TOI) is a highly reputable news source in India, consistently ranked as one of the most trusted news brands.. While some analyses suggest a slight right-center bias, its reporting on this case appears to be factual and detailed, corroborated by other reputable news outlets like The Indian Express and NDTV.. The case is primarily specific to India, involving Indian citizens and law enforcement agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was P Radha Gayatri and how did she die?
P Radha Gayatri was a 27-year-old software engineer from Visakhapatnam, India. She was found dead on June 15, 2026, at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, under suspicious circumstances. Initially, her husband claimed it was a health issue, but later investigations and her family's allegations led to a murder case being registered against him.
What are the allegations against the husband, Soumya Shricharan?
Gayatri's family alleged foul play, dowry harassment, and controlling behavior from her husband, Soumya Shricharan. They claimed he may have drugged her and that there was a history of harassment. Shricharan was arrested and charged with murder and dowry death.
What was the outcome of the police investigation and legal proceedings?
Following the family's complaint and initial investigation, a murder case was registered against Soumya Shricharan. A magisterial inquiry was also ordered due to the unclear cause of death. Shricharan was arrested, his anticipatory bail plea was rejected, and he was remanded to judicial custody. The exact cause of death is still under investigation, with viscera samples sent for analysis.
Why was the case considered suspicious?
The case was deemed suspicious due to the circumstances in which Gayatri was found – naked on the floor, with bloodstains and in a room with liquor bottles. The post-mortem examination did not determine a clear cause of death, and the family's allegations of foul play and harassment raised further concerns.
