Boyfriend of Kerala doctor who died by suicide suspended by medical association

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday suspended Dr Ruwise EA, who is accused of abetment of suicide of a 26-year-old doctor in Thiruvananthapuram.

The victim, Shahana, died by suicide after her boyfriend, Ruwise, called off their wedding because her family did not meet their dowry demands. Ruwise was arrested by the police on December 6.

In a statement, the IMA said, “Dr Ruwise EA, a member of the Indian Medical Association, alleged to be involved in the abetment of suicide of a lady doctor pursuing her 2nd year post-graduate training in surgery, has been arrested by the police under the dowry prohibition act and remanded to Judicial Custody.”

“Considering the very grievous nature of the allegations and arrest, Dr Joseph Benaven, President, Indian Medical Association Kerala State Branch hereby suspend Dr Ruwise EA, from the membership of IMA pending final decision,” the statement reads.

Ruwise’s family allegedly demanded a significant dowry in the form of gold, land, and a BMW car. When Shahana’s family was unable to fulfil the demands, her boyfriend – who was also a representative of the Medical PG Doctors Association, ended their relationship.

Shahana’s brother Jasim Nas told the media, “We were even open to the idea of a register marriage. But Ruwais was money-minded, he wanted to extract a lump sum of money from us in the form of a dowry as desired by his parents.”

He said that Ruwais’s father was adamant about a dowry.

Jasim Nas said that Shahana slipped into depression as Ruwais backed out of the marriage citing dowry issues, and she died by suicide on December 5.

Following her death, Shahana’s relatives alleged that she died by suicide after her boyfriend refused to marry her as her family could not fulfil dowry demands.