August 7: Twenty-three-year-old Kalani Pandi had always dreamed of a small family of her own. With a six-month-old daughter she nearly had what she wanted. The only problem was her mother-in-law. They quarrelled regularly. Her pleas to the elderly lady to leave house were in vain.

SoKalani found the best way to get rid of Sanmuka Vallai (56). She chose yesterday afternoon for completing her unfulfilled desire. As soon as her husband Nainas Valani Pandi, an electrician employed with the Tata Power House left for work at 7.30 am, she picked up a quarrel with her mother-in-law. The arguments continued till 1.00 pm when in a fit of rage Kalani took a koita (sickle) and struck Vallai at the back of her head and then chopped it off. The deed done, Kalani was confused. She then set the body on fire to show that her mother-in-law died accidentally while cooking.

The watchman of the Tata Power House staff quarters, Borivli (E) smelt something burning. He immediately informed the Kasturba Marg police, who quickly swung into action and apprehended Kalani at the spot of the crime. She was produced before the Borivli metropolitan magistrate who remanded her to judicial custody till tomorrow.

DCP Dilip Shirrao said that the couple was married for over a year and the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law used to quarrel relentlessly. Shirrao said that Kalani wanted to stay with her husband and her infant daughter. He ruled out any other cause such has dowry or ill-treatment by the mother-in-law. The police chief further said that Kalani did not suffer from any mental disorder and was moderately educated. She is absolutely normal by all means, he added.

Local sources said Kalani's conduct in the colony was not good. A few months ago her mother had asked Kalani's mother-in-law to leave her daughter alone with her husband and child. Police officials were also not happy with the metropolitan magistrate remanding Kalani to judicial custody instead of police custody. This will will hamper their investigations, they said. Police have recovered the sickle, the torn gown worn by Kalani during the murder and the blood stains in the kitchen.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.