She hired the house maid and her family to kill her daughter-in-law
The death of the 35-year-old was first reported as a fall in the bathroom. Marks on her neck and bleeding from the head made police suspicious. Five arrests have followed, four of them from one family.
The 35-year-old woman’s death in Ghatkopar has now led to four more arrests, with police saying that her mother-in-law, the key accused, paid Rs 3 lakh to her domestic help and her family members for committing the murder.
The mother-in-law, 65-year-old Dhanlaxmi Ghanji, arrested on Tuesday, had initially tried to pass off the death of Sapna Ghanji as a fall in the bathroom, police said.
However, police said, the nature of injuries, CCTV cameras and call records led them to the accused. On Wednesday, police arrested Mangala Jadhav, the domestic help, her husband Suresh, daughter Shivani (21) and son Sajan (19).
DCP Ganesh Shinde told The Indian Express, ” After the body of Sapna was found with injury marks in the bathroom on Sunday night, we registered a murder case and arrested her mother-in-law. It was during her interrogation and technical clues that we found that she had hired four others to murder her daughter-in-law on Sunday. She later tried to pass the death off as an accidental fault Sapna had in the bathroom as she was under the influence of alcohol.”
Ghatkopar Murder: The ₹3 Lakh Contract
Mumbai · 5 arrested in daughter-in-law's murder
₹3 Lakh
Allegedly paid by mother-in-law to hire her killers
The Accused (5)
Mastermind
Dhanlaxmi Ghanji, 65
Mother-in-law of victim
Arrested Tue, Aug 18
Hired Executor
Mangala Jadhav
Domestic help at victim's residence
Arrested Wed, Aug 19
Accomplice
Suresh
Mangala Jadhav's husband
Arrested Wed, Aug 19
Accomplice
Shivani, 21
Mangala Jadhav's daughter
Arrested Wed, Aug 19
Accomplice
Sajan, 19
Mangala Jadhav's son
Arrested Wed, Aug 19
How It Unfolded
Sapna Ghanji, 35, was found dead with injury marks in the bathroom of her Ghatkopar home on Sunday night, August 16. Her mother-in-law Dhanlaxmi initially claimed Sapna had slipped and fallen while under the influence of alcohol. But the nature of her injuries — bruising around the neck and a head wound — raised suspicion. Police say the accused threw chilli powder in Sapna's eyes, hit her with a glass tumbler, strangled her with a dupatta, and stood on her neck when she did not die. CCTV footage of the accused entering the building and phone records between them established their complicity.
Alleged Motive
Dhanlaxmi was reportedly upset with Sapna over a 2024 FIR Sapna had filed against her in-laws under the Domestic Violence Act at Nalasopara Police Station. She also suspected Sapna of an extramarital affair and alcohol addiction. Sapna had returned from Dubai with her son in June for a holiday while her husband remained abroad for work; quarrels with her mother-in-law followed.
Source: The Indian Express (DCP Ganesh Shinde) · Case details as reported
Dhanlaxmi was upset with her daughter-in-law as she had in the past filed an FIR against her family and also suspected her of having an extra-marital affair and being addicted to alcohol, police said.
Two days ago, Sapna’s parents were told she had fallen in the bathroom. Her in-laws rushed her to hospital, where she was declared dead. (Enhanced using Claude)
Sapna had left for Dubai with her husband and son earlier this year, and returned in June with her son for holidays, while her husband remained in Dubai where he worked.
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After her return, Sapna had quarrels with her mother-in-law, who alleged that she was consuming alcohol and having extra-marital affairs, police said.
Besides, in 2024, Sapna had registered a case against her in-laws at Nalasopara Police Station under the Domestic Violence Act.
On Monday night, Sapna’s parents received a call that she had fallen in the bathroom and her in-laws rushed her to the hospital, where she was declared dead.
When a team from Pant Nagar police station in Ghatkopar reached the hospital, they found black-blue marks were visible around Sapna’s neck, and she had been bleeding from the left side of the head, which made them suspicious.
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Dhanlaxmi initially told the police that Sapna had slipped in the bathroom and fallen.
Later, during interrogation, she allegedly told them that she had fought with her daughter-in-law and during the quarrel, she pushed Sapna, causing her to fall in the bathroom, sustain a head injury, and die. However, based on the nature of injuries the deceased had sustained, the police found that her head had been banged on a hard surface. Based on Sapna’s father’s complaint, an FIR was registered and Dhanlaxmi was placed under arrest.
Dhanlaxmi had allegedly roped in her maid Mangala Jadhav, who also worked at Sapna’s residence, to murder her daughter-in-law, police said.
She promised her Rs 3 lakh to her and eventually Jadhav’s son, husband and daughter too were roped in, they added.
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As per police, Dhanlaxmi allegedly went to Sapna’s residence on Sunday afternoon on the pretext of resolving their fight. She then allowed the maid Jadhav and the three others into the house.
The accused told the police that Sapna was under the influence of alcohol and they allegedly threw chilli powder in her eyes, hit her head with a glass tumbler and later strangled her with a dupatta.
When she did not die, the accused allegedly stood on her neck, which eventually killed her, following which they destroyed the evidence, police said.
The police said they have found CCTV footage where the accused are seen entering the building, and phone records between the accused which proves their complicity in the crime.
Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems.
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Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order.
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Two days ago, Sapna’s parents were told she had fallen in the bathroom. Her in-laws rushed her to hospital, where she was declared dead. (Enhanced using Claude)