Frustrated with alcoholic spouse, woman kills self

A 24-year-old beautician committed suicide by hanging in her flat at Khar (east) allegedly due to increasing frustration and mental harassment because of her husband’s alcohol addiction, late on Sunday.

Her husband was drinking alcohol in a bar at the time of the incident and has been arrested on abetment to suicide charges on Monday morning based on an FIR registered by the deceased’s mother.

The beautician, Rupali, had married the 39-year-old accused Shashikant Karkera after they both fell in love. “Rupali’s family had warned her not to marry Shashikant as he was addicted to alcohol but she loved him and they tied the knot in July 2012,” said an investigating official.

Shashikant works in a courier company and also owns a pan beedi shop. The couple had no children, was financially stable, and lived in their own flat in Safalya CHS in Shantilal compound in Khar. Though the couple did not face any financial problems, Shashikant was addicted to branded liquor for years now. A bottle of Royal Stag was found from his home.

Rupali had put him in rehab more than once but he could not get rid of his addiction. “He stopped drinking alcohol for a few months but soon went back to it. The couple would often end up fighting after Shashikant consumed alcohol. He would abuse and harass Rupali. Even though they fought regularly, they could not live without each other and stayed together,” said a relative.

Around 11 pm on Sunday, Shashikant returned from a bar and started watching television. But he happened to look into the bedroom once and saw Rupali hanging and rushed her to VN Desai Hospital.

The hospital pronounced her dead and alerted the Nirmal Nagar police. On the same night, Rupali’s mother registered an FIR under section 306 abetment to suicide under the Indian Penal Code.

Shashikant was placed under arrest early on Monday and the Bandra magistrate’s court remanded him to police custody till November 12, said senior police inspector Sudhir Jambavadekar of Nirmal Nagar police station.

Meanwhile, sub inspector Prashant Goravade has been recording statements of his mother and other relatives. The couples seem to have been living a secluded life as their neighbours do not seem to be much aware of their matters.