A Delhi Police constable allegedly shot dead his wife with his service pistol in the middle of a road in east Delhi’s Vinod Nagar, an officer said on Monday.The deceased was identified as Priyanka, 30, a teacher at a private school in Ashok Vihar. According to the officer, her family alleged that her husband, Manish Bhatti, who is posted with the Delhi Police’s Anti-Auto Theft Squad, had subjected her to dowry-related harassment since their marriage in 2023.Mr. Bhatti has been absconding since the incident. A case of murder has been registered against him, the officer added.According to a statement given by the victim’s family to the police, the couple had left their home in New Vinod Nagar around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The family also told police that Priyanka had earlier approached the women’s cell with a complaint of dowry harassment, but the matter was settled after counselling.The officer said Priyanka was upset because her husband had not wished her on her birthday, which allegedly led to an argument between the two.Heated argumentCCTV footage from the area purportedly shows the couple getting off the motorcycle near Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and arguing before the constable pulled out his service pistol and fired at his wifee.Priyanka was found lying on the roadside by a passerby, who took her to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival, the police said.“The death has been reported to the SDM for an inquiry<NO,,> as the marriage was less than seven years old<NO>. The SDM has spoken to the deceased’s family and recorded their statements,” said Rajeev Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), adding that the allegation of dowry harassment is being verified. Published - July 14, 2026 12:48 am IST