MARGAO/CUNCOLIM: The Cuncolim Police are yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder of 27-year-old Diksha Gangawar from Uttar Pradesh, allegedly by her husband Gaurav Katiyar at Cabo-de-Rama on January 19. However, the victim’s family claimed that her death was due to dowry and vowed to lodge a complaint with the South Goa Collector to seek justice for her.
Diksha’s father Sandesh Gangawar, her brother Himanshu Gangawar along with two other relatives arrived in Goa on Sunday from Uttar Pradesh and met the Cuncolim Police. Gaurav, who has been arrested by the Cuncolim Police, was remanded to five days police custody by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Margao on Saturday.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Diksha’s brother Himanshu said, “It was an arranged marriage and we had sold our property to pay Rs 10 lakh as dowry at the time of the marriage.”
He further added that due to constant harassment, his sister had returned to her maternal home.
“She arrived in Goa on January 16 after their differences were apparently resolved, but on January 17, my sister’s phone was destroyed by her husband so that she could not communicate with us and two days later Gaurav killed her,” he alleged.
Endorsing Himanshu’s statement, Arif Khan, a family friend, who resides at Zuarinagar, Vasco, said, “Soon after marriage, Gaurav demanded an additional Rs 12 lakh to purchase a car. Because Gaurav was harassing her, Diksha came back to her maternal home and returned only after their differences were settled.”
Himanshu disclosed that they have informed the police that his sister was being harassed for dowry, but Cuncolim PI Diogo Gracias said they are still in the process of finding out the exact motive behind the murder.
“Gaurav and Diksha were married in November 2022 in Uttar Pradesh,” said Himanshu. Belonging to a farmer’s family, Diksha was the eldest of the four siblings - two brothers and a sister.
According to the police, Gaurav was working in Chennai and came to Goa in December last year and joined a starred hotel that is being set up at Colva and was residing in a rented premises in the village.
When asked whether the couple had a cordial or strained relationship, PI Gracias said, “We are still collecting information about the relationship between them. The two-wheeler hired by Gaurav to take Diksha to Cabo-de-Rama Beach on January 19, has been attached.”
He took her to Cabo-de-Rama via Chinchinim and before they could reach the spot, they halted on the way to have food in a hotel.
The post-mortem examination on Diksha’s body will be performed on Monday at the South District Hospital, Margao where the body has been preserved and after autopsy, the body will be handed over to the relatives, who intend to take it to Uttar Pradesh for last rites.
The police said that Gaurav was trying to project that his wife’s death was due to drowning, however it was some tourists that apparently saw them arguing at the beach, who informed the police. The police arrived at the spot and nabbed Gaurav and also recorded statements of the tourists.
It is learnt that the tourists have filmed the scuffle between the couple.
“We are waiting for the post-mortem examination report and the picture will be clear only after that,” said PI Gracias.
Police sources disclosed that there were abrasion marks on Gaurav’s chest indicating that Diksha had a scuffle with Gaurav before she was killed.
According to the police, the accused later confessed to have allegedly killed her.
Gaurav is a degree holder in Hotel management from Lucknow and had got a job in an under construction starred hotel at Colva. His wife Diksha had completed her BA.
Police have also confiscated Gaurav’s cellphone in a bid to obtain his call details which police hope could throw more light on the investigations.
Preliminary police investigations have revealed that the couple had a sour relationship.
The family members informed that it was an arranged marriage but not a happy one as both were involved in quarrels which compelled Diksha to return to her maternal home.
While in Goa, Gaurav phoned his wife and called her to visit the State. He went to receive her at the airport and both stayed in rented premises for four days before she was done to death.
The police visited the rented premises and conducted a search as part of the investigations.