Man sets wife ablaze for not bearing male child, say police

On Wednesday, while Sarita was on way to work, Sanjay stopped her on way, poured petrol on her and set her on fire, the brother’s statement said, adding Sanjay would often harass his wife for not bearing a male child. Despite relatives intervening, trying to drive sense into Sanjay he kept assaulting and harassing her, the brother said.

In the past, two police complaints were also filed by Sarita against her husband. Eventually, tired of the constant abuse, the woman and her daughters moved to her sister’s residence in Chembur.
However, the accused began harassing her there too, under the influence of alcohol, the complainant said. Sanjay would allege that the woman was having an affair with another person and hence she was not returning home. Over the past few months, he started coming to her sister’s residence frequently and would follow her when she went to work. He would abuse her and ask her to return home with their daughters.

On Wednesday morning, Sanjay again went to her sister’s place and threatened to kill Sarita and went away. Assuming he had left, Sarita started for work when Sanjay, who was hiding on the way, poured petrol on her and set her ablaze with a cigarette lighter.

According to a police officer, autorickshaw driver Ismail Shaikh who was present at the spot poured water on her and ferried her to Sion hospital with the help of passersby. Local residents also informed the Nehru Nagar police in Kurla (East), which registered an attempt to murder case against Sanjay and arrested him.

Nehru Nagar senior inspector Yusuf Saudagar said, “The accused has been arrested. The woman who sustained 10 per cent burns is out of danger. The accused suspected his wife of having an affair with other men and hence he tried to murder her.”