In a heartbreaking incident in the Eintkhedi area, Deepak Mehra (45) tragically set his wife, Radhika Mehra, and himself on fire after a domestic dispute on June 9, 2025. Both individuals, residents of Aravaliya, succumbed to their injuries during treatment at Hamidia Hospital.
Radhika, who was severely burnt, passed away at approximately 2:30 am on June 15, 2025. Deepak followed soon after, at around 5:00 am on the same day. The postmortem was conducted at Hamidia Mortuary, and the bodies were handed over to the family later that afternoon.
The Itkhedi police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.
According to sources, Deepak Mehra, a laborer by profession, had a history of alcohol addiction, which led to frequent arguments with his wife, Radhika. Distressed by his addiction and his erratic behavior, Radhika had moved to her maternal home nearby with their two children, a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. She had been urging her husband to quit drinking for the sake of their children, but this only escalated the tension in their marriage.
On the evening of June 8, 2025, Deepak visited Radhika’s maternal home in an attempt to persuade her to return with him. When she refused, he decided to stay the night. The next morning, around 5:00 am, while the family was asleep, Deepak allegedly poured petrol on his brother-in-law, Lalu, and then on Radhika before setting her on fire. Lalu, who was awakened by the smell of petrol, managed to escape to another room, unharmed. However, after seeing his wife engulfed in flames, Deepak poured petrol on himself and set himself alight.
Radhika’s brother, Rajesh Kumar, confirmed that Deepak was intoxicated at the time of the attack. Rajesh explained, “My Jija [brother-in-law] was a laborer and addicted to alcohol.
Due to this, Didi [sister] had come to her maternal home with the children. On the evening of the incident, Jija came to take Didi, but she refused. He stayed at our house. Early in the morning, he poured petrol on Lalu, who woke up and ran to another room.
Then he poured petrol on Didi and set her on fire. After that, he set himself ablaze.”
Sub-Inspector Vijay Singh Bhati, the investigating officer, noted that the exact motive behind the incident remains unclear, as both Deepak and Radhika were unconscious during their hospitalization and could not provide statements. However, initial findings suggest that alcohol might have played a significant role in the attack.
This tragic incident is part of a troubling pattern of escalating violence in domestic disputes within the region. Just a few days earlier, on June 11, 2025, a similar incident occurred in Itkhedi, where a man set his wife on fire and attempted self-immolation over suspicions of infidelity. These violent cases underline the urgent need for addressing alcohol addiction and domestic violence in Madhya Pradesh.
The Itkhedi police are continuing their investigation, with further statements from family members yet to be recorded. The case remains under close scrutiny.