Sharjah: Satheesh Shankar, husband of Athulya Shekhar, who was found dead in her residence in Sharjah, has come forward with a statement, claiming innocence while raising doubts over the circumstances of her death.

In a video statement, Satheesh denied his involvement in Athulya ’s death, alleging that several details surrounding the scene point to possible foul play.

“The bed had been moved, and a knife and a mask were found in the room. There was also a button in her hand, which was not mine. These things must be investigated,” Satheesh said, urging authorities to check surveillance footage.

He added, “If she had intended to end her life due to our issues, she could have done that in Dubai and left me. Why here, why now?” He also revealed that he attempted suicide following Athulya ’s death.

Athulya Shekhar (30), a native of Thevalakkara, Kollam, was found dead on Saturday at her home, Athulya Bhavan, in northern Thattan, Sharjah.

Her family and friends have alleged that sustained physical and emotional abuse by Satheesh was behind her death. WhatsApp chats and videos pointing to a history of domestic violence have since emerged, intensifying public outrage.

Responding to the allegations, Satheesh admitted to being an alcoholic and confirmed that he had physically assaulted Athulya in the past. “Yes, I used to drink, and I have hit her. I won’t deny it,” he said.

He also spoke about a past incident in their relationship: “Last November, she became pregnant. Without telling me, she went to Kerala and had an abortion. When I asked her why, she said, ‘You are 40, you have diabetes. I can’t manage another child.’ She never gave me a clear answer.”

Recalling the day of her death, Satheesh said: “She called me suddenly and said she had to go to work. I arranged a taxi and gave her my credit card, telling her to take whatever she needed. Everything seemed okay. We had been living separately in the same house for a week. I was upstairs; she was downstairs. I had a drink that evening, it was the weekend. But I’m not a daily drinker. I’m diabetic; I take insulin twice a day.”

“She didn’t like me talking to friends or even my relatives. I couldn’t even speak to my mother about anything. I was everything to her. And she was everything to me,” he added. 

Meanwhile, he claimed that he was away at a party in Ajman when the incident occurred. According to him, Athulya had made several calls to him during this time, which he initially ignored, as she often contacted him repeatedly when he went out. Eventually, she made a video call and showed him the ceiling fan, saying she intended to take her own life. Alarmed, Satheesh rushed home to find the door open and Athulya hanging from the fan. He said he immediately alerted the police.

Later, during a visit to the police station and while checking the room, Satheesh said he noticed that the bed and mattress, furniture, too heavy for one person to move, had been shifted. He also spotted a knife and eight unused face masks in the room. 

Satheesh insisted that Athulya was not someone who would end her life, stating that she was strong enough to overcome any challenge. He said he plans to move to Sharjah permanently and emphasised that there were no secrets between them. He also urged authorities to review CCTV footage from the area.

Following Athulya ’s death, Satheesh said he posted an emotional message on social media about ending his life as well and even attempted suicide. However, he says, he had ultimately abandoned the effort. He also dismissed claims that the couple was facing financial issues.

Satheesh claimed that he earns a monthly salary of 9,500 dirhams and had no reason to harm his wife.

Police in Sharjah have yet to release an official statement on the post-mortem findings. Investigations are ongoing, with mounting public pressure and calls for justice growing on social media.