The Mahim Police Station have arrested a 38-year-old man for allegedly abetting the suicide of his wife, who ended her life following frequent domestic disputes reportedly arising out of his extramarital affair. The accused, identified as Shrikant Vinayak Pednekar, was taken into custody on Thursday and later remanded to three days of police custody by a local court.
The deceased, Yashoda Shrikant Pednekar (35), allegedly died by suicide at her residence in the Mahim Koliwada area between midnight of December 31, 2025, and 9.30 am on January 1, 2026.
According to police sources, Yashoda, originally from Raigad district, had married Shrikant in May 2013 in a love marriage. After marriage, the couple resided in the Mahim-Koliwada and Mahim Causeway area. The first three years of their marriage were reportedly smooth. However, in 2016, Yashoda came to know about her husband’s alleged extramarital relationship, which led to frequent arguments between the couple.
Police said that Shrikant would allegedly abuse and physically assault her over trivial domestic issues. Yashoda had informed her sister about the harassment. Distressed by the alleged mental and physical abuse, she had once returned to her sister’s home in Raigad and even approached a family court there. However, the couple reached a compromise in February 2017, after which she resumed living with her husband in Mahim.
Despite the reconciliation, the harassment allegedly continued over the years. Police officials stated that Yashoda was subjected to prolonged mental and physical abuse, which reportedly pushed her into severe depression.
On the night of December 31, an argument reportedly broke out between the couple. After the dispute, Yashoda went into a room and allegedly hanged herself. Upon discovering her, Shrikant rushed her to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
Following the incident, Yashoda’s sister Manda Mhatre lodged a complaint with the Mahim police about one-and-a-half months later, accusing Shrikant of mentally and physically harassing Yashoda and driving her to suicide.
After verifying the complaint, police registered a case against Shrikant under relevant sections for abetment of suicide and cruelty. He was produced before the Bandra local court on Friday afternoon, which remanded him to police custody till Monday, February 23.
Police said further investigation into the case is underway.