Praveen (23) has told the police that he was set on fire after his paramour’s brother call him to their house on February 11.

“Monu called me to their house to talk. I reached around 10.30 pm. But as I entered, his father Om Prakash kicked me and I fell on the floor. Immediately, Monu’s cousin poured kerosene on me and Monu set me on fire,” Praveen said in his statement.

Praveen suffered about 80 per cent burn injuries; his condition is critical.

After the incident, the police had registered a case of attempt to suicide. But later, the attempt to murder section was added to the FIR after an SDM enquiry was ordered into the matter.

Praveen’s relative Sanjeev said, “After the police did not take any action, we approached the Joint Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police. They looked into the case and an SDM enquiry was ordered.”

An FIR (Newsline has a copy) under Section 309 was first lodged into the matter on February 12. Later, on February 14, section 307 was added.

Praveen and his paramour (name withheld) had eloped six months ago. “They were spotted in Bhatinda and handed over to their families,” Sanjeev said. Praveen is a second year student of a chartered accountancy course.

Om Prakash, who had called the police after the incident, had reportedly said Praveen set himself ablaze outside the house.