Thane: A domestic dispute over a saree allegedly ended in a murder in Badlapur East, where a 30-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly killing her husband with a pressure cooker lid before strangling him to death and attempting to pass off the crime as a heart attack.The accused, Sunita Hariram Singh, 30, was arrested after police uncovered contradictions in her statement during the investigation. The victim, Hariram Kishunji Singh, 35, died at the couple’s rented house on July 19.Police said the couple, natives of Rohtas district in Bihar, had been living in Badlapur for the past nine years with their seven-year-old son.According to investigators, the couple frequently argued over domestic issues. On the day of the incident, an argument broke out after Hariram allegedly failed to bring sarees for his wife. The verbal altercation soon escalated into a violent confrontation.During the quarrel, the couple’s seven-year-old son ran to the house owner seeking help after witnessing the fight. However, before anyone could intervene, Sunita allegedly struck her husband on the head with the lid of a pressure cooker and then strangled him, police said.To cover up the crime, she allegedly told the house owner that Hariram suffered a heart attack following the argument. Based on her claim, police initially registered an accidental death report (ADR).However, a post-mortem examination revealed multiple injuries that were inconsistent with a natural death, prompting investigators to probe further.“Initially, the accused claimed that her husband died of a heart attack after a domestic quarrel. The autopsy, however, confirmed homicidal death. We subsequently registered a murder case, and during interrogation, she confessed to the crime,” said Nitin Patil, senior police inspector of Badlapur East police station.Police have booked Sunita under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while the couple’s seven-year-old son is currently in the care of relatives. Further investigation is underway. — Pradeep Gupta
