Accused of burning daughter-in-law, cop returns to Tihar as prisoner

A Deputy Superintendent of Tihar Jail and his son were arrested on Thursday for allegedly setting ablaze the latter’s wife over dowry at their residence in South Delhi’s Mahipalpur.

With 65 per cent burns, 25-year-old Usha Singh is battling for her life at Safdarjung Hospital. Her husband, Nitin, works for a private security firm in Faridabad.

Fifty-year-old Gyan Singh, who was handling the charge of Central Public Relations Office at Tihar Jail, and his son Nitin are now prisoners in Jail No. 4 of the same prison complex.

The duo has been booked for dowry harassment and attempt to murder. While the role of Usha’s mother-in-law is also being probed, she has not been arrested as she suffers from paralysis. In her complaint, Usha accused her mother-in-law of abusing her verbally.

It was around 4 p.m. on Wednesday that a neighbour made a call to the Police Control Room. According to the police, the caller had heard the victim screaming for help and also poured water over her to put out the fire.

Usha and Nitin had been married for the past three years. Since they had been married for less than seven years, the victim’s statement was recorded by a sub-divisional magistrate.

The victim is learnt to have told the SDM that all the members of her husband’s family had been harassing her for dowry since her marriage.

“On Wednesday too, she had an argument with Gyan, who demanded that she bring money from her parents. When she tried explaining that she was unable to meet the demand, he along with his son beat her up,” said a police officer.

It is also alleged that Gyan slashed her wrist with a blade and followed it up by pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze. Some neighbours, who heard the victim crying for help, informed the police and overpowered the father and son. They were handed over to a police team that reached the spot.