Mumbai Crime: Man gets 8-year jail term for stabbing wife after fight over curd

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A sessions court convicted a 39-year-old man, who had allegedly stabbed his wife two years ago in anger as she had eaten a portion of the curd which she had brought home. The court sentenced the accused to eight years imprisonment on attempt to murder charge. Police officials said the man had called the woman a 'cat', which led to an argument.

While finding the accused Sachin Malore, Antop Hill resident, guilty, the court stated, "The offence proved against the accused is serious in nature. While showing leniency to the accused, the sufferings of the victim cannot be ignored. The accused stabbed his own wife on petty grounds."

According to a report in the Times of India, the accused has been lodged in jail since his arrest in 2017. During the hearing, the sessions court refuted the accused's defence that his wife, Ranjana, was injured as she accidentally fell on a steel utensil rack.

"The testimony of complainant is supported by medical evidence as well as eyewitnesses who immediately rushed to the spot and found the accused assaulting his wife. There is no reason brought forward for false implication. During cross-examination, nothing is brought on record which will create doubt about the trustworthiness of the said witness." the court observed.

The victim, a mother of two, was among the nine witnesses who deposed during the trial. The victim told the court that the accused was unemployed and would often abuse her when drunk. She said she worked to support the family.

According to Ranjana, on the night of September 9, 2019, the accused came home drunk. At that time she was eating curd which she had brought from her mother. Recalling the incident, Ranjana said the accused objected to this and said, "Looks like the cat has eaten the curd."

She further stated that she questioned her husband for calling her a cat and told him that her mother had given the curd to her. This angered the accused, who kicked her in the face. Furthermore, the accused started beating her and when she asked him for the reason, he picked up a knife, gagged her and stabbed her in the stomach.

Ranjana's landlord's son-in-law heard her cries and immediately rushed to the house. He rescued her, while the accused fled from the scene. Ranjana then called her sister, who lives nearby. Her sister arrived immediately and took Ranjana to Sion Hospital.

Later, an FIR was lodged. Ranjana spent a month in hospital undergoing treatment.