Mumbai Father Attacks Daughter and Wife Amid Domestic Tensions, Arrested by Police
Mumbai Father Attacks Daughter and Wife Amid Domestic Tensions, Arrested by Police
Horrifying violence erupted in Mumbai when a 14-year-old girl was brutally attacked by her father while asleep. Hanumant Sonawale allegedly slashed his daughter’s neck, and when his wife, Rajshree, tried to intervene, she too was assaulted. The accused, reportedly intoxicated at the time, has been arrested, and the police are conducting a detailed investigation.
Investigations so far reveal that Sonawale, who is unemployed and struggles with alcoholism, frequently abused his wife and harbored suspicions about her fidelity. Neighbors and family members said he often questioned her character and became violent during arguments.
The attack seems to have been triggered by mounting domestic tensions. Rajshree had recently filed for divorce and consulted a lawyer, which reportedly angered Sonawale. On Saturday, while the mother and daughter were out for her birthday dinner, Sonawale stayed home, invited relatives over, and threatened his wife over her legal consultations. The conflict escalated again on Sunday night after Rajshree returned from a lawyer’s meeting.
Around 2:15 am on Sunday, the daughter felt a sharp pain in her neck. When she switched on the light, she saw her father sitting beside her mother, holding a bloodied blade. Both mother and daughter were injured, with Rajshree sustaining cuts on her stomach. Neighbors rushed in after hearing the girl’s screams and managed to pull Sonawale out of the house.
The injured mother and daughter were admitted to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali West, with the 14-year-old requiring five stitches on her neck. Both are currently under medical care and recovering.
Following the daughter’s statement, Dahisar police registered a case against Sonawale for attempted murder and domestic violence. “The accused has been taken into custody after registering the case under section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is underway,” said a police official. Sonawale was produced in court and remanded to police custody until Wednesday.
Neighbors described Sonawale as a pest control worker who often became violent under the influence of alcohol. The family had long been experiencing domestic conflict, with Rajshree reportedly wanting to sell the house and move to Pune to escape the turmoil.
This case comes shortly after another disturbing incident in Mumbai, where a businesswoman alleged she was forced to strip at gunpoint and recorded, facing threats if she reported the crime. The woman named Joy John Pascal Post, Managing Director of Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals, and five others in her complaint to the authorities.
