MIDC police station in Andheri was thrown into a tizzy when a 32-year-old man walked into the station in the early hours of Wednesday, saying he wanted to surrender for murdering his wife. Officers said the murder occurred in the presence of the couple’s two-year-old child.

The accused, Chetan Chougule (32), was unemployed and used to stay with his wife Aarti (22) in Kamgar Hospital Colony, Andheri (East). The police said Aarti, a housewife, was in the habit of watching videos online till early hours, and this would lead to constant arguments between the couple.

“Around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Mr. Chougule woke up and found Aarti was watching videos online again. He told her to stop doing the same, as it was disturbing his sleep. When she she refused, a fight started between the couple,” senior police inspector Nitin Alaknure, MIDC police station, said.

Mr. Alaknure said in a fit of rage, Mr. Chougule allegedly grabbed a length of rope and strangled her. “When he realised that he had killed Aarti, he came to the police station and surrendered. We sent a team to their residence to verify his claims, after which he was arrested. The couple’s two-year-old son was in the house when the murder was committed,” he said.

Inquiries till now have revealed that Aarti’s fondness for watching videos and movies on television and on her cell phone had been irking Mr. Chougule for a long time. Lately, the arguments had become so worse that Aarti had taken to leaving the house with their son to stay with her parents every time they had a fight.

Mr. Chougule has been charged with murder under the Indian Penal Code.