Ghaziabad: A 23-year-old woman, Karishma Verma, died by suicide in Ghaziabad after being subjected to prolonged mental harassment over a financial dispute involving ₹25-30 lakh, money that her family claims was saved for her marriage.
According to police and family members, Karishma, a resident of the Wave City police station area, consumed Sulphas poison on Saturday, 14 February 2026. She was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition by her family but succumbed during treatment the following day, Sunday, 15 February. Her body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and an investigation is currently underway.
Karishma’s father, Pawan Verma, has accused her childhood friend Shivangi, along with Shivangi’s sister-in-law Sapna, a friend named Rahul, and a Delhi-based youth Rahul Jain, of deceiving his daughter and withdrawing ₹25-30 lakh from her bank account. He alleged that the accused convinced Karishma to part with the money by promising to double the amount through investments.
The situation reportedly worsened when Karishma demanded her money back. Her father claims she was mentally tortured and blackmailed, and that the accused later filed a complaint against her under the SC/ST Act, which further intensified her distress. Unable to cope with the pressure, Karishma allegedly took the extreme step.
The family has also revealed that Karishma had attempted suicide nearly seven months ago under similar stress. A complaint was filed at the police station at that time, but no effective action was taken. The matter is currently pending in court.
Police officials stated that preliminary findings indicate a financial dispute between both parties and confirmed that an SC/ST Act complaint has been lodged by the accused side. Authorities have said that all angles, including allegations of fraud, harassment, and abetment to suicide, are being examined.
