CHENNAI: Police on Tuesday arrested a 32-year-old man after his nine-year-old daughter deposed saying she saw him pour kerosene over her mother and set her afire at their Mangadu residence on Sunday. Based on the confession of the girl, the Mangadu police picked up Sabari and charged him with the murder of his wife Varalakshmi.
A court later sent him to jail.
Some neighbours of the couple told police that Sabari often came home drunk and fought with his wife over petty matters. On Sunday, after one such bitter fight, they heard Varalakshmi screaming for help, rushed to the place and found her severely burned.
Police arrived and sent her to Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital where she died on Tuesday.
Police said Sabari and their two children were completely unhurt. When questioned, Sabari said he tried to rescue her and also kept their two children from approaching their mother, he said.
Police then questioned the children separately and the girl said she had seen her father douse her mother with kerosene and torch her.
