Pune techie kills pregnant wife, stages fake robbery before leaping from second floor

PUNE: A 31-year-old software engineer allegedly murdered his three-month-pregnant wife at their rented home in Dehugaon early on Sunday, staged a robbery to mislead investigators and then jumped from the second floor of the building in a bid to escape suspicion, police said on Monday.

Akash Baraskar, who is currently being treated at a hospital, allegedly slit the throat of his wife, Shubhangi (28), before telling investigators that robbers had attacked the couple. Police said the story began to unravel after residents of the building reported that the couple had been quarrelling until 4am on the day of the incident.

The frantic call that exposed the lie

Senior Police Inspector Vikram Bansode of Dehu Road police station said: “Around 6am on Sunday, we received information that a person had been attacked in Dehugaon. On reaching the spot, a police team found Baraskar lying on the ground.”

He added: “Baraskar told police that robbers had attacked him and his wife and that she was lying in their second-floor rented accommodation. Police found the woman severely injured and unconscious.” Both were rushed to a hospital, where doctors pronounced Shubhangi dead.

Neighbours' testimony breaks the alibi

“Though we began probing a robbery attempt, we became suspicious when residents of the building told us the couple had been quarrelling until 4am on Sunday. They also told us that the couple had been quarrelling ever since they moved into the building about five months ago,” Bansode said.

“During questioning, he admitted to killing his wife with a sharp weapon. He then inflicted injuries on himself and jumped from the balcony,” the officer said.

Marriage, farmland dispute and a family's complaint

Baraskar, a native of Ahilyanagar district, works with a software company in Hinjewadi, while Shubhangi was employed with a private firm. The couple married in 2023.

In a complaint lodged on Sunday night, Shubhangi's father alleged that Baraskar had been harassing his daughter because she opposed his decision to purchase farmland in his hometown in Ahilyanagar district. He also accused Baraskar of neglecting her despite knowing she was pregnant.

Baraskar, who remains under treatment at a hospital, has been charged under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police said he will be taken into custody once he is discharged.