GURUGRAM: A domestic spat, apparently over long working hours, ended with the death of a software engineer and arrest of his wife on charges of murder.
On Friday, an argument between the couple, Gunjan and Sachin Kumar, allegedly escalated into a fight and Sachin sustained a deep knife wound in the chest.
Gunjan, according to police, claimed they would often have fights because Sachin would be too busy with work and hardly give time to the family. The two have an 11-year-old daughter, who witnessed the incident, and an 8-year-old son, who is believed to have been in another room.
Police said Gunjan had claimed she picked up a kitchen knife during the argument and threatened to kill herself, and Sachin had tried to snatch the knife from her when it pierced his chest.
Knife accidentally pierced his chest, says techie’s wifeSachin, who worked with an IT firm, and Gunjan, who is employed with an export house,were marriedfor 12 years. The family lives on the ground floor of a two-storeyed house in Sector 7 while Sachin’s younger brother owns the first floor.
Neeraj, Sachin’s brother, said he rushed downstairs after hearing the commotion on Friday morning. He told police he saw his brother lying on the ground, blood spurting out from the wound. He took Sachin to a nearby private hospital, from where he was referred to Medanta. He died during treatment there.
Neeraj claimed fights over office hours were nothing new for Sachin and Gunjan. Both had been working from home during the pandemic. “Gunjan would often accuse my brother of not giving enough time to the family. They had fights like any other couple. We never took it so seriously,” he added.
Gunjan has claimed in her police statement the knife accidentally pierced his chest. Police said they have collected evidence for forensic reports. The couple’s daughter is the sole witness in the case.
“There didn’t seem to be any serious issues between them. They would have fights like any other couple,” said Subhash Boken, a spokesperson for Gurugram police.
Neeraj has lodged a police complaint, accusing his sisterin-law of killing his brother. “I saw my brother lying on the ground. My niece wouldn’t stop crying,” he added. On the basis of his complaint, a case was registered under Section 302 (murder)of theIPC atNewColony police station. The police said though a preliminary probe pointed to an accidental death, they were scanning the couple’s phones and talking to their children as part of the investigation.
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