A personal assistant of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde was arrested here on Monday on charges of abetment of his wife`s suicide, police said, reported news agency PTI.
Dr Gauri Palve (28), wife of accused Anant Garje, allegedly hanged herself in her flat at Worli in central Mumbai on Saturday due to a domestic dispute, an official said, reported PTI.
Based on a complaint filed by Palve`s father, the Worli police had registered an abetment of suicide case against Garje, who is minister Munde`s PA, and two of his relatives.
The Worli police arrested Garje early Monday morning, the official said, adding that he will be produced in a court later in the day, reported PTI.
The couple tied the knot in February this year, and Palve was working as a dentist in the civic-run KEM Hospital, he said.
Palve`s family alleged that she was tortured and harassed by her husband, and this led her to take the extreme step, according to police. They have demanded a thorough investigation into the death.
In their police complaint, Palve`s family alleged that Garje had an extra-marital affair, and Palve caught him while chatting with another woman on a mobile phone, reported PTI.
The couple would fight over the issue and Garje allegedly used to threaten his wife, the police said.
Palve`s uncle alleged that she did not commit suicide, but it was a case of murder and blamed Garje and his family members for it. He also demanded an in-camera postmortem and a probe into the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Meanwhile, State Animal Husbandry and Environment Minister Munde said police should investigate the matter and ensure there are no lapses.
“Another PA of mine received a call from Anant`s phone between 6:30 and 6:45 pm on Saturday. He was crying inconsolably. He told me with great distress that his wife had committed suicide. This was very shocking”, Munde said in a statement.
The minister reiterated that the police conduct a proper investigation into the matter, and that she had conveyed this to the police.
“I also spoke with Gauri Palve`s father. I can understand that he is in great sorrow. What happens in someone`s personal life is incomprehensible”, she added.
(With inputs from PTI)
