Navi Mumbai Woman Brutally Killed by Husband; 7-Year-Old Daughter Becomes Key Eyewitness in Shocking Murder Case
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In a horrifying case of domestic violence that unfolded in Navi Mumbai’s Uran area, a 32-year-old woman was allegedly tied up and set on fire by her husband in the early hours of August 25. The gruesome act, initially passed off as a suicide by the accused, took a chilling turn after their seven-year-old daughter—an eyewitness to the murder—spoke up during police questioning, ultimately revealing the truth.
The victim, identified as Jagrani Rajkumar Sahu, originally from Reva, Madhya Pradesh, was found with severe burn injuries inside her rented home in Pagote village. Her husband, Rajkumar Ramshiromani Sahu (35), a truck driver by profession, was arrested on August 26 after multiple inconsistencies in his statements surfaced during the investigation.
The couple lived with their young daughter, while their 10-year-old son stayed back in their native town with grandparents. On the day of the incident, Rajkumar told police he was out transporting goods and claimed his daughter was with him. He said his wife had likely committed suicide by locking herself inside and setting herself ablaze.
However, investigators quickly found red flags. The door was not locked from the inside as claimed. Moreover, CCTV footage from the locality showed Rajkumar walking with his daughter around 8 AM that morning, contradicting his story.
Senior Inspector Hanif Mulani of Uran police confirmed Rajkumar’s arrest and explained how the truth was uncovered. “We initially registered the case as an accidental death. But the husband’s version was inconsistent, which raised our suspicion,” he said.
The breakthrough came when a lady constable spoke to the couple’s minor daughter in a safe environment. What the child revealed shocked the investigators. She said her parents had a heated argument early that morning, during which her father tied her mother’s hands and legs, poured kerosene over her, and set her on fire using a lighter.
Her statement, backed by forensic findings, the autopsy report, and CCTV footage, provided irrefutable evidence. “The accused claimed he wasn’t at home, but the child’s statement and surveillance clearly proved otherwise,” Mulani stated.
When confronted with the evidence, Rajkumar confessed, saying he suspected his wife of having an extramarital affair. But neighbours had a different story—they told police the accused was a drug addict and frequently abused his wife over minor domestic issues.
On August 26, police officially booked Rajkumar under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder, and he was taken into custody. “This is not just a murder—it’s a brutal case of long-standing domestic abuse. The accused tried to stage it as a suicide, but his own daughter’s brave testimony exposed the truth,” Inspector Mulani concluded.
