Athulya Shekhar (inset) was found dead in her Sharjah apartment a day after her birthday. ARCHIVE

The husband of Athulya Shekhar, the 30-year-old Indian expatriate found dead in her Sharjah apartment last month, has been arrested at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Sunday (August 10), Indian authorities confirmed. Satheesh Sankar was detained upon arrival from Dubai and handed over to Thekkumbhagam police, who said he had secured anticipatory bail from the District Court. He will be released depending on the court’s order after his statement is recorded. Athulya’s family had accused Sankar of repeated physical abuse and dowry-related harassment. Videos showing him assaulting her circulated widely online. She died by suicide on July 19, a day after her birthday, according to Sharjah Police forensic findings. Indian media reported Sankar faces multiple charges, including abetment of suicide, causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon, wrongful confinement, cruelty by a husband or his relatives, and violations under the Dowry Prohibition Act. Athulya had lived in Sharjah’s Rolla district for two years and was set to start a new mall job. She leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter in India. Her remains were buried in her hometown of Kollam on July 30. Her death came just nine days after another Indian expat woman died by suicide in Sharjah, following the killing of her one-year-old daughter in a separate case tied to alleged domestic abuse. ICA/Expat Media
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