Payal Jhambare death: in-laws arrested in Pune days after husband held

Swargate police have made another arrest in the death of Payal Jhambare in Pune's Mukundnagar area. Her parents-in-law, who had been absconding since the incident, have now been arrested. They are Arvind Jhambare (father-in-law) and Mangal Jhambare (mother-in-law).

Two days earlier, police had arrested Payal's husband, Akshay Jhambare, whom they describe as the main accused in the case. He was produced before the Shivajinagar court, which sent him to four days in police custody. Since the case was registered, the parents-in-law had been evading police, but Swargate police stepped up the investigation and took both into custody. With the couple now in police hands, it is believed that more details of the case may emerge.

The case dates to November 1, when Payal Jhambare, 29, who was married, hanged herself at her home. Her family alleges that she took the step because of a demand for dowry and continuous physical and mental harassment by her in-laws. According to the family, before her death Payal sent her brother a message saying, "My mother-in-law is responsible for all this."

Following the incident, a case was registered at Swargate police station against the husband, the parents-in-law and the sister-in-law. The case is one of dowry death and abetment of suicide.

The family has told police that her parental family spent Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh on the wedding. Even so, the in-laws were not satisfied. The family alleges that after the marriage Payal was repeatedly asked for gold and money. In particular, she was put under heavy pressure at Diwali to bring 10 tola of gold from her parents' home. The family says Payal took the step because of this suffering and the constant torture.

With the parents-in-law now in police custody, the investigation is being pursued in greater depth.