Former Director General of Police Dr D V Guruprasad has been accused of dowry harassment in a complaint lodged by his daughter-in-law, Savitha Shashi, with Seshadripuram police.

Shashi married Guruprasad's son Sumukh, a software engineer, in 2010. The couple had been living in Belgium, until Shashi returned to India early 2012. Since then they have been living separately, police sources said.

In her complaint, Shashi alleged that her husband Sumukh and his family, particularly Guruprasad, had been harassing her for a dowry of Rs 20 lakh, to build a house on a site he owns in JP Nagar. She claimed that this was the sole reason for her separation from her husband while in Belgium and, her return to India.

She has named Sumukh, Guruprasad, mother-in-law Swarna Guruprasad and sister-in-law Apoorva in the complaint.
Seshadripuram police have registered a case and are investigating.

Police sources said that they have called both the parties for questioning, as part of a formal inquiry. However, police investigations revealed that Sumukh has sought a divorce and the matter is pending in family court. Police sources added that the complaint is “vague” and points to a possible misuse of the law to settle marital disputes.

“We are investigating with an open mind. Guruprasad has not been questioned yet, but it will be done in due course,” said T Suneel Kumar, Additional Commissioner (Law and Order).