'I want to be with another woman like actor Darshan,' says husband as wife ends her life in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, September 7 (IANS): In a tragic incident, a wife committed suicide following domestic violence in Akshay Nagar in Bengaluru's Hulimavu area, an official said.

The accused – a housewife – was tortured by her husband, who said he would marry another woman and lead a life like that of the imprisoned actor Darshan.

“Men can do anything and still get away with it,” the accused husband told the victim.

Police identified the victim as Anusha and the accused husband as Srihari. The victim doused herself with petrol and set herself on fire in her apartment on Thursday. She was admitted to Victoria Hospital, where she succumbed to severe burns on Saturday.

The police have taken the accused into custody for questioning.

The victim's mother, Renuka, told reporters that Srihari had repeatedly told his wife that film actor Darshan was living with two women and that men could do anything in such matters and still get away with it.

“Srihari tortured Anusha every day. My daughter told and narrated everything to me. Her husband posed as actor Darshan in his defense. Fifteen days ago, my daughter slit her hand and asked him not to talk to her about the divorce,” she said.

Renuka added that on Thursday, her daughter asked her to feed the baby and went to her master bedroom.

“She went to the adjoining bathroom and after a video call asked Srihari to change his behaviour otherwise she would pour petrol on herself and set herself on fire. The accused told her to go ahead. He informed me later and by that time my daughter had already suffered severe burn injuries,” Renuka said.

She added that she took her daughter to the hospital.

“No woman from a poor background should have to go through such trauma as my daughter. Only parents who give birth to daughters know how much suffering there is in such situations. If Srihari had informed me about the incident a little earlier, I would have saved my child,” Renuka cried.

Renuka said Srihari would talk about other women in front of her and engage in inappropriate conversations with them on video calls. He would intentionally switch on the speaker to mentally torture Anusha. Despite this, she stayed with him thinking about her child's future.

Police sources said they had received information that Srihari had also tortured his wife to make her cooperate with him after showing her vulgar videos. He had tortured her more in the last two months and wanted to marry another woman from a wealthy background in his office.

The couple was married for five years and Srihari is a relative of the deceased.

The Hulimavu police have launched an investigation.