On Monday (17/02/2020) morning, Sandalwood playback singer Sushmitha Raje was found dead, hanging on her own dupatta at her mother's house, in Nagarabhavi, in Bengaluru. She had allegedly sent a WhatsApp message at around 01:00 am, to her brother and mother stating that her husband Sharath, his mother and his sister had been repeatedly harassing her over dowry and that she had decided to end her life on this account. Sushmitha's brother, who read the message at around 05:30 am, immediately rushed to her room to find her dead, hanging from the ceiling.

Sushmitha's mother Meenakshi has reportedly registered a case against Sharath, his mother Geetha and sister Vydehi, with the Annapoorneshwari Nagar Police and they are now on the hunt for the three, who are reportedly absconding. Sushmitha and Sharath were married just over a year-and-a-half ago and allegedly, Sushmitha has been facing harassment ever since. Her message to her brother has reportedly detailed the harassment and also that she did not want to die at her husband's house and had come to her parents' house because of that.

Sushmitha Raje has lent her voice for songs in movies like Srisamanya, Haalu Thuppa and Hani Hani Hibbani, among others. She was reportedly singing in an orchestra before entering the world of Cinema. Sharath had come across Sushmitha at a cultural event before getting impressed by her and had his family elders approach Sushmitha's family seeking an alliance. The couple are said to have gotten married in July 2018. We pray for Sushmitha's soul to rest in peace and hope this case gets resolved and justice is handed to her family.