Husband Booked for Cruelty and Abetment of Suicide After Woman Dies of Burn Injuries
A shocking incident from Gujarat’s Surat has led to the arrest of a man who allegedly recorded his wife’s self-immolation on his mobile phone instead of trying to save her. The woman later died from severe burn injuries, prompting police to book the husband for cruelty and abetment of suicide.
The accused, identified as 33-year-old Ranjit Saha, was arrested after investigators recovered a video clip from his phone showing him filming the tragic incident. Police said the footage clearly indicated that Saha chose to record the moment rather than intervene or seek immediate help.
According to Inspector A.C. Gohil of Icchapor Police Station, a case was registered on January 14 under Sections 85 (cruelty by husband or relatives) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation began after the woman’s family raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding her death.
The victim, Pratimadevi, had allegedly set herself on fire following a heated argument with her husband over a minor dispute involving their children. During the altercation, police said Saha provoked her by telling her to burn herself. Moments later, she poured diesel over herself and ignited the fire inside their home.
Police clarified that diesel was kept in the house because Saha works at a garage and had brought it home, claiming it was meant to be mixed with phenyl for floor cleaning. Investigators said the accused recorded the entire episode in an apparent attempt to prove his innocence and avoid blame for his wife’s death.
Pratimadevi was rushed to a hospital on January 4 and remained under treatment for several days. Her statement was recorded by police on January 11, shortly before she succumbed to her burn injuries. Her brother later alerted the authorities, suspecting the husband’s involvement, which led to a deeper probe and the discovery of the video.
Originally from Bihar, the couple had eloped and married in 2013 before registering their marriage in court. They moved to Surat around three years ago in search of better employment opportunities and were living with their two sons and a daughter at the time of the incident.
Police said further investigation is underway, and the recovered video footage will be a key piece of evidence in the case. Authorities are also examining mobile phone data and witness statements to establish the full sequence of events leading to the woman’s death.