Mumbai: A day after registering a case of murder against a Ghatkopar woman for allegedly assaulting her daughter-in-law, Sapna Ganji (35), and causing fatal head injuries and trying to pass the death off as a tragic household accident, Pant Nagar police arrested her and four others, including a former maid.In his complaint, Sapna’s father Rajendra Vallal (63) alleged that she was subjected to mental and physical harassment by her husband Pramod, father-in-law Bhikshapati, mother-in-law Dhanalakshmi and other family members since a few years after her marriage in May 2013.Police claimed that Dhanalakshmi planned the killing and offered Rs 3 lakh to a former maid and her family members to carry out the crime.In his complaint, Vallal said that on Monday, around 12.37am, he received a phone call from Bhikshapati informing him that Sapna had slipped in the bathroom, suffered a head injury, and was taken to Rajawadi Hospital. Vallal and his wife reached the hospital around 2am, and were informed that Sapna had died. He said when questioned, Dhanalakshmi allegedly claimed that after a domestic help informed her that Sapna had consumed alcohol and was creating a ruckus, an argument ensued. Later, Sapna slipped and fell in the bathroom, sustaining fatal head injuries.Vallal, however, alleged that upon seeing his daughter’s body in the mortuary, he noticed a major injury on the back of her head as well as marks and bruises on her face, neck, and shoulder. He expressed suspicion over the circumstances of the death and alleged that the injuries on her body indicated that she had been assaulted.He accused Dhanalakshmi of attacking Sapna and causing fatal head injuries due to resentment over a previous domestic violence complaint filed against the Ganjis and filed a police complaint.
