BENGALURU: Distressed after his wife filed a divorce petition, a 39-year-old cabbie died by suicide by setting himself ablaze outside his estranged wife's house in Jnanabharati, west Bengaluru, Thursday morning.
Cabbie H Manjunath from Tumakuru, resident of NGEF layout, was married to a make-up artist, Nayana Raj in 2013. He had a nine-year-old son.
Police said Nayana applied for divorce in 2022 and since then, the couple lived separately. However, Manjunath often visited her parental house, requesting her to return and take back the divorce petition. But Nayana refused, police said.
Around 8.30am Thursday, Manjunath again visited Nayana and reiterated his request in vain. Around 11.30am, Manjunath went and stood outside Nayana's house, poured an yet-to-be-identified inflammable liquid on himself and set himself on fire. He died on the spot.
Manjunath's mother, Nanjamma, has filed a complaint against Nayana, her parents and sister, saying she suspects foul play. A case against the suspects has been booked under BNS 194 for disturbing peace by indulging in public fight.