23 July,2016 08:38 AM IST | | Asif Rizvi
The women had a 15-year history of arguments and fights would often erupt while the mother-in-law watched TV soaps; another tiff led to their deaths
Akshata Kangutkar would make hand gestures at her mother-in-law Usha
Saas-Bahu arguments can prove fatal. Just ask Laxmikant Kangutkar, whose wife choked his mother to death after an argument and then drank poison to kill herself. In his statement to the police, Laxmikant has revealed how the woman had a 15-year-long history of arguments, often over entry into the kitchen and blocking the view of the television.
Also read: Woman kills self after murdering mother-in-law
Akshata Kangutkar (in pic) would make hand gestures at her mother-in-law Usha
The arguments turned ugly on Thursday morning at the Kangutkar's second floor residence in Jai Hanuman Co-Op Housing Society in Matunga. Akshata Kangutkar (43) killed her mother-in-law Usha (70) over another domestic quarrel.
A day after the incident, a devastated Laxmikant appeared before the police and recorded his statement. Laxmikant told the police that there were frequent arguments between the two, since 2001, a year after he got married to Akshata. She would make gestures to tease Usha and she hated it when someone made hand actions at her. Usha, in turn would respond with her own volley of insults.
mid-day's July 21 report on the women's deaths
On Thursday morning after Laxmikant left for work, Usha and Akshata got into an argument and once again she used hand gestures to tease Usha. The argument grew violent and Akshata strangled Usha to death. Upon discovering that Usha was dead, Akshata picked up a bottle of Phoskill and consumed it.
Kitchen politics
Laxmikant told the police that his wife and mother never got along and there were frequent fights between the two over petty issues. Akshata used to get irritated on seeing her mother-in-law in the kitchen and she would bluntly convey her displeasure on several occasions. Usha would retort by saying it is her son's house and Akshata has no right to stop her from venturing into the kitchen.
The second cause of arguments was when Ankita used to stand in front of a mirror, thus coming in the way of Usha's view of the television. "Ours is a one room kitchen flat. Whenever she came in front of the mirror, it restricted my mother from watching TV. This was the other major cause of fights between the two," Laxmikant told cops.
He added that his wife was hot headed and on many occasions, she provoked his mother by making funny gestures at her. He had made several attempts to stop her from doing so, but she had ignored him.
Bodies found by son
Primary investigations have revealed that Usha was strangulated to death by Akshata, who killed herself by consuming Phoskill, an insecticide. All this while, Akshata and Laxmikant's 14-year-old son, Rajdutt was sleeping in the bedroom and awoke at 11 am to the sight of his mother and grandmother lying dead on the floor.
He asked them to wake up and when none of the two responded to him, he phoned Laxmikant, who then asked him to inform their relatives who reside on the third floor of the same building. The relatives rushed to help and raised an alarm after finding out the women were dead. They called the neighbours, who then phoned the police.
Cops says
Gangadhar Sonawane, senior police inspector of Shivaji Park police station said, "We have recorded the statements of Laxmikant Kangutkar and his school going son. Akshata and Laxmikant got married in 2000 and a year later, frequent quarrels occured between the mother and daughter-in-law started. On many occasions, Laxmikant tried to intervene."
He added, "After receiving the provisional post mortem reports of Usha, it has been revealed that her death was by strangulation. Based on the report and circumstances, an FIR under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against Akshata Kangutkar."
