The Uttarakhand government has handed over the investigation into the death of government teacher Srishti Kandhari to the CB-CID. The case involves allegations of mental harassment and dowry-related pressure following her marriage in November 2025. This move aims to ensure a transparent probe after family complaints against her husband and in-laws.
The Uttarakhand government has officially transferred the investigation concerning the death of Srishti Kandhari, a government school teacher based in Dehradun, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). This administrative decision follows mounting public and political pressure for an impartial and thorough examination of the circumstances that led to her passing, which occurred approximately eight months after her marriage.
The transfer was initiated after Devprayag MLA Vinod Kandhari held discussions with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the case. Following this meeting, the Chief Minister issued formal directives to the state Home Secretary to move the probe from local police to the specialized CB-CID unit. The MLA has publicly stated his expectation that this change will ensure a transparent inquiry and that any individuals found responsible will face strict legal consequences.
Srishti Kandhari’s death has been the subject of intense focus due to a video message she recorded prior to her passing. In the recording, addressed to her mother, she described enduring persistent mental harassment by her husband and members of her in-laws' family. The allegations include constant taunts and claims that she was treated poorly within the household.
A formal complaint filed by her mother, Seema Kandhari, alleges that the harassment began shortly after the marriage took place in November 2025. According to the complaint, Srishti was frequently labeled as 'inauspicious' and was blamed by her in-laws for various household misfortunes, including the health issues of her father-in-law. The family claims this alleged mistreatment intensified following the death of her father-in-law just days before Srishti’s own death.
Prior to the transfer, the Doiwala Police had registered a criminal case against the husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law of the deceased. Charges were filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, specifically including Section 80(2) related to dowry death. The CB-CID is now tasked with reviewing all existing evidence, including the victim's video statement, forensic findings, and the post-mortem report, to determine the next steps in the legal process.