Pune woman's death: Family threatens highway blockade if in-laws are not arrested by Wednesday

Relatives of Payal Akshay Zambare, 30, who allegedly died by suicide at her home in Mukund Nagar, Pune, have warned that they will block the national highway if the remaining accused are not arrested by Wednesday. The family says her in-laws harassed her physically and mentally over demands for dowry and gold.

A case has been registered at Swargate police station against Payal's husband Akshay Zambare, her mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law. So far police have arrested only the husband. He was produced in court on Tuesday and sent to police custody until November 7.

The same day, Payal's family and relatives went to Swargate police station, met senior officers and demanded immediate action against the other three. They said nearly 45 hours had passed since the incident, yet the mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law remained absconding.

The family also questioned the way the investigation was being conducted. They alleged that Payal's father-in-law had come to the police station, but a policeman took him out without detaining him. They also claimed that CCTV footage from the housing society where the incident took place has not yet been seized.

The relatives said clearly that if arrests were not made by Wednesday morning, villagers would block the national highway.

DCP (Zone 2) Milind Mohite said the relatives met senior officers and put forward their concerns. He said police understood their anger and that they had been assured the case was being investigated.

On the accused who have not been caught, Mohite said Payal's father-in-law was admitted to hospital after his health worsened and would be arrested once his condition improved. He also confirmed that the husband would remain in police custody until November 7.

The DCP added that police were also examining a WhatsApp message Payal allegedly wrote before her death, in which she allegedly held her in-laws responsible for her condition. According to police, both the dowry harassment allegations and the circumstances of her death are being investigated.