Marriage in India symbolizes sacred commitment. It brings together not just two individuals, but also their families, cultures, and social expectations. Despite this cultural significance, an unsettling trend has emerged—marriages turning into battlegrounds that lead to violence and even murder. The idea of a safe and loving home crumbles when relationships devolve into manipulation, abuse, and bloodshed.
Let’s dig deeper into why Indian marriages, once considered unbreakable, now frequently end in brutal crimes.
Rising Cases of Marital Murders
Across India, crimes rooted in domestic settings have steadily increased. In Karnataka, police registered 698 murder cases in just the first eight months of 2024. Shockingly, 161 of these murders stemmed from spousal or lover disputes. That means one in every four murder cases in the state involved intimate partners. This isn’t just a statistical anomaly—it highlights a societal failure.
These cases don’t limit themselves to rural or low-income families. Urban centers, educated households, and nuclear families report equally disturbing numbers. Love has turned lethal in many modern Indian homes.
Dowry Demands Still Kill
Despite decades of legal bans, dowry remains a root cause of marital strife. Families continue to pressure newlyweds for gifts, cash, and material assets. When demands go unmet, violence often follows.
In 2021, India saw close to 6,800 dowry deaths. The government introduced the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1961, but enforcement remains weak. Families cloak their cruelty under the guise of tradition, and in-laws often act as silent accomplices. Brides burn alive, “accidents” take place, and families report “suicides” when, in reality, these women suffer systematic abuse until death.
Honor Killings: Love Versus Tradition
In many Indian households, love still bows before caste, religion, and family reputation. Couples who dare to marry across caste or religious lines often face deadly consequences.
Take the case of a Dalit man from Telangana who married an upper-caste woman. The woman’s family hired hitmen to murder him in broad daylight. That wasn’t an isolated event. Families across India have turned into executioners to preserve their so-called “honor.” These killings reveal that many Indians value social approval over the lives of their children.
Recent Marital Murder Cases That Shocked India
1. The Meerut Murder (2025):
Saurabh Rajput, a former Merchant Navy officer, went missing. Later, police found his body chopped and stuffed into a drum filled with cement. His wife, Muskaan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla, had plotted the murder. They killed him so they could be together. The gruesome detail of the crime—dismemberment and cold planning—shows how premeditated and personal these murders have become.
2. Shraddha Walkar Case (2022):
Aaftab Poonawala murdered his live-in partner, Shraddha, and dismembered her body into 35 parts. He stored her remains in a fridge and disposed of them over several days in a forest. The case sent shockwaves through the nation. It exposed the growing trend of relationship violence, even among educated, urban millennials.
3. The Koodathayi Cyanide Killings:
Jolly Joseph poisoned six members of her own family over 14 years using cyanide. Her victims included her husband, in-laws, and relatives. She carried out the murders for financial gain and to remove obstacles in her personal life. This case uncovered how greed, ambition, and emotional emptiness can drive people to destroy their families.
Why Are Marriages Turning into Crime Scenes?
1. Patriarchy and Control:
Indian marriages often operate on strict gender roles. Husbands and their families expect wives to obey without question. When women assert independence, control freaks lash out. Many men treat their wives like property. This mindset breeds possessiveness, abuse, and eventually violence.
2. Caste and Religious Bigotry:
Caste and religion still dominate Indian social structure. Families raise children to marry “within the community.” Any deviation leads to rejection, violence, or murder. Parents have killed their own children or ordered others to do so, simply because the partner didn’t meet traditional expectations.
3. Dowry Greed:
Marriage has become transactional. Families use it to gain wealth or social standing. If the bride’s family cannot meet demands, the husband’s family resorts to threats, torture, or murder. The law exists on paper, but society often protects the perpetrators instead of the victim.
4. Infidelity and Betrayal:
With changing social dynamics, more couples experience infidelity, mistrust, and emotional distance. But instead of resolving issues or separating peacefully, some individuals choose violence. Jealousy, fear of divorce, and ego push them to commit irreversible acts.
5. Mental Health Neglect:
Mental health still carries stigma in India. Couples rarely seek therapy. Families hush up signs of psychological issues. Without intervention, minor frustrations grow into uncontrollable rage. Many perpetrators suffer from undiagnosed disorders that fuel violent behavior.
Legal Loopholes and Society’s Silence
India has strong laws against domestic violence and dowry. But laws mean nothing without enforcement. Police often dismiss complaints. Families encourage women to “adjust” rather than file reports. Even neighbors and friends choose silence over interference.
Society shames victims. It questions their character. It tells them to save their marriage “for the sake of family.” This cultural conditioning traps many women in abusive situations. When they finally snap—or when their partners do—the result is often fatal.
What Needs to Change?
1. Normalize Therapy and Counseling:
Couples should treat mental health checkups like physical health checkups. Society must stop judging those who seek therapy.
2. Teach Gender Equality Early:
Schools and families need to teach boys and girls that relationships are partnerships—not power struggles. Equality must begin at home.
3. Stronger Law Enforcement:
Police must treat domestic complaints seriously. Swift action can prevent future tragedies.
4. Public Awareness:
Campaigns and media must continue exposing these stories—not to sensationalize them, but to spark conversations and change.
5. Empower Women Economically:
Financial independence gives women the courage to walk away from toxic marriages. Families should support their daughters, not pressure them to endure suffering.
Final Thoughts
The rise in marital murders reflects a society in crisis. Behind the closed doors of Indian homes, love often fights a losing battle against ego, tradition, control, and greed. Fixing this crisis demands more than just new laws. It requires cultural transformation, honest dialogue, and collective responsibility. Only then can Indian marriages return to their true essence—partnerships rooted in trust, respect, and safety.
