79-year-old man arrested over attempt to kill wife, daughter

According to police, Pranita was scheduled to get married on April 30 to a person from another caste, to which Shetty had objected to.

Shetty was constantly fighting with his wife and daughter over this for a few days and his family did not mention Shetty’s name in the marriage invitation card, police said.

The incident happened on April 27, when Pranita and her mother had returned from her engagement ceremony in Malad.

“Around 1.30 am, when I was sleeping, my husband started hitting me with a hammer. He then brought a rope and tried to strangle me. When I pushed him aside, he brought a knife and attacked me. I shouted. Hearing my screams, Pranita rushed to my help, but my husband (Prabhakar) attacked her also with the knife,” Geeta told the police.

The injured Pranita somehow overpowered her father, and Geeta rushed outside and got help from neighbours, police. Both mother-daughter were admitted to Kokilaben hospital by the neighbours.

Geeta sustained injuries on her head, chest and face while Pranita sustained injuries on her head, chest and hands. The police recorded Geeta’s statement at the hospital and lodged an FIR.

“Both the victims are stable now. We have arrested the accused, seized the hammer and knife used in the crime,” said Siraj Inamdar, senior inspector of Versova police station.

Shetty has been arrested under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. He was remanded in police custody up to May 2 by the court, Inamdar added. Police would also consider sending Shetty for a mental health check up, a police officer said.