An argument over lunch fare turned violent on Saturday when a Govandi resident allegedly killed his wife by hitting her on the head with a floor tile. The accused, identified as Suraj Shetty, 35, is absconding, police said. They added that the couple’s youngest son was present in the house when Babita Shetty was killed. A manhunt is on to apprehend the accused.
Police said the incident took place around 11 a.m. in Arvind Patil Nagar, Govandi. They said Mr. Shetty, unhappy with what his wife had made for lunch, allegedly started assaulting her. In a fit of anger, he allegedly pried loose a floor tile and hit her on the head. When she fell, bleeding heavily, Mr. Shetty fled the scene, police said.
Senior PI Shashikant Mane, Govandi police station, said, “Their youngest son Soham, 3, witnessed the incident. Scared, he ran out of the residence and told neighbours that his father was beating up his mother. They rushed to the house to find Babita lying injured.” Babita was taken by neighbours to Sion Hospital where she was declared dead before admission.
Mr. Mane said after recording statements of relatives and neighbours, it appears that Mr. Shetty had been suspecting his wife of infidelity for some time, and the argument over the fare may have been a trigger.
He added that a case of murder has been registered under the IPC against the accused. Several teams have fanned out to various locations where Mr. Shetty could be hiding. The Government Railway Police (GRP) have also been alerted in case he tries to flee the city by train.
Police said the Shettys were married for nearly 10 years. Besides Soham, they have two sons aged seven and 10. All three children are in the care of relatives.