Arrested husband in Kerala over deceased Indian expat Athulya in Sharjah. Bail expected.
In a shocking turn of events, Satheesh Shivasankara Pillai, a site engineer from Dubai, has been accused and charged under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the death of his wife, 30-year-old Athulya Sekhar, who was found dead in her Sharjah apartment on her 30th birthday, July 19, 2025.
The charges against Satheesh include abetment of suicide, grievous hurt, wrongful confinement, cruelty by husband or relatives, and violations of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The evidence against him includes audio clips of Athulya confiding to friends about the abuse she endured, as well as video footage of the alleged mistreatment.
Upon arrival in India at Thiruvananthapuram airport, Satheesh was promptly arrested by immigration officials and handed over to the Crime Branch of the State Police Department. He is currently in custody at Valiyathura police station in Kollam district for further investigation.
Satheesh has been terminated from his job at a Dubai-based construction company following the incident and after videos surfaced showing him physically abusing Athulya. Despite the serious charges against him, Satheesh has denied involvement in her death while admitting to past physical abuse.
Athulya’s parents have filed a formal complaint against Satheesh, and her sister and brother-in-law in Sharjah also intend to file a case against him in the UAE. The investigation by Sharjah Police is ongoing, and the court has pointed out that the case was considered a suicide as per the forensic report issued by the Sharjah Police, with Satheesh not having been arrested in the UAE.
Recently, it was reported that Satheesh had secured anticipatory bail and will have his statement recorded before being released in line with the court's order. However, Athulya's family is set to appeal against the interim bail. The Home Department had earlier transferred the case to the State Crime Branch and issued a lookout notice against Satheesh in connection with the incident.
At this time, the status of the investigation and Satheesh's current custody remain unclear. Gulf News awaits further updates on the case.
[1] Gulf News, "Keralite woman's death in Sharjah: Husband arrested in India," July 25, 2025. [2] The Hindu, "Kerala man arrested in India over Sharjah woman's death," July 25, 2025.
The tragic events surrounding the death of Athulya Sekhar have garnered attention in both local and international news outlets, with Gulf News reporting on Satheesh Shivasankara Pillai's arrest in India in connection with the case. The investigation has expanded across jurisdictions, as Athulya's family intends to file a case against Satheesh in the UAE, while he is currently facing multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code. Additionally, general news outlets have covered various aspects of the case, including Satheesh's termination from his job in Dubai following video evidence of his alleged physical abuse and the ongoing court proceedings in India. The fate of the investigation and Satheesh's custody remain undecided, as the investigation continues and updates are awaited. Furthermore, the case highlights the importance of addressing issues such as domestic violence, which are not confined to a single region or political system, and often intertwine with areas like crime and justice.
