Mumbai: Drug addict throws acid on estranged wife

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A 35-year-old drug addict attacked his estranged wife with acid who had left him owing to his addiction.

The incident which occurred in the early hours of September 25, in Madh Island, Malad West, has left the 27-year-old victim with severe burns on her face and other parts of her body. The victim has been admitted to Cooper Hospital.

The accused identified as Shabbir Gulam Khan had fled the scene after the attack. Before fleeing he stole the mobile phones of his wife and her brother. However, Malvani police quickly launched a search operation and arrested him near Nashik the same evening. He has been charged under various sections of the BNS and was remanded to police custody after being produced in the court on Thursday.

According to the police, the couple had been in a relationship before getting married in 2019. They lived in Nalasopara East. The victim told the police that after their marriage, she discovered her husband's drug addiction. She also learned that he was living with a transgender person. This led to frequent arguments between the couple. The woman moved back to her maternal home in Madh three months ago and she had planned to seek a divorce from Khan.

The attack occurred in the early hours of September 25, when the victim's brother left the door of their house open while going to the bathroom. Khan entered the home and threw acid on the victim's face. The chemical caused severe burns, especially around her lips, and also affected other parts of her body. Her family immediately rushed her to Cooper Hospital, where she is now stable but remains under treatment.

Senior police inspector Chimaji Adhav of Malvani police station confirmed that the liquid used in the attack was a strong acid. "We have booked the accused under sections 124(2), 311, 333, and 352 of the BNS. The accused was caught near Nashik and is now in custody," Adhav said.