A 41-year-old man from Dharavi has been arrested for setting ablaze his live-in partner’s 20-year-old daughter. The victim in the case has been identified as Mohini Jaiswar, daughter of Kajal, who is in a relationship with Nandkishore Patel for the past nine years. Kajal and Patel both hail from Uttar Pradesh and they met there when Kajal was married to another man. After Kajal separated from her husband, both she and Patel decided to move to Mumbai – Dharavi – where they lived with Kajal’s daughter Mohini.
Patel worked as a wage worker, while Mohini recently started working. According to police sources, Patel did not like the fact that Mohini worked late, which was the primary cause of domestic strife. With recurring fights, Mohini and Kajal decided to move out of their house and started living separately, in a house in the same locality.
Patel set Mohini on fire when Kajal wasn't home
On the day of the crime, Monday around 2 am, Mohini had just returned from work and was waiting outside her house for the takeaway she had ordered. Patel saw her and got angry. He picked up a bottle of turpentine, poured the liquid over Mohini and set her on fire.
Kajal, who had gone out for some work, returned home after an hour or so and found Mohini unconscious with burn injuries all over her. She was rushed to Sion Hospital’s critical condition care.
Patel remanded to police custody
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone V, Manoj Patil, Mohini acquired almost 50% burns. She has major injuries on her chest, arms and face, the police said.
Kajal filed a case against Patel on Tuesday, after which he was arrested from Badlapur. The police have registered a case against him under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Patel, who was presented in court on Wednesday, has been remanded to police custody.
Several incidents in past
In recent past, several incidents like this have happened in Dharavi and around the city. Earlier on May 5, a 25-year-old man killed his wife by setting her on fire in Dharavi, using kerosene.
After committing the crime, the man also set himself on fire. While the woman tragically succumbed to her injuries, the man's condition was reported as serious.
According to a statement released by the Dharavi Police, the accused, Anil Hiralal Dhuriya, had a fight with his wife, Priya, due to his drinking habits, which had been a source of regular arguments between them.
