Ravindra poured kerosene over his wife, Shalini, who was a primary school teacher, and set her ablaze on September 15, 1996 at their residence in Ganesh Nagar, Kalwan.

After setting Shalini ablaze, he ran away from the spot. Neighbours rushed her to a cottage hospital in Kalwan and later to the Nashik civil hospital, where she was declared dead before admission. The Kalwan police recorded her dying declaration, before she was rushed to Nashik.

Ravindra wanted to buy a motorcycle and asked his wife to bring money from her father. Shalini's parents had given him Rs 25,000 for the motorcycle, but he wanted the remaining amount soon. The court sentenced Ravindra to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000. His brother Rajendra and cousin Bapu Pawar were sentenced to three yearsimprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 each. His mother Kasubai and sisters Sulabha and Chhaya were sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined Rs 3,000 each.

Ravindra had married Shalini on May 10, 1995. According to her parents, they had given 50 gm gold and Rs 75,000 as dowry. However, Ravindra and his family members used to ill-treat and torture Shalini. Shalini was a primary school teacher and her father, the headmaster of Janata Vidyalaya at Kanashi in Kalwan, was unable to meet Ravindra's growing demands.

On September 14, 1996, Ravindra picked up a quarrel with Shalini and assaulted her. The next morning, he set her ablaze.

The incident led to a public outcry and a morcha was taken out by local residents in Kalwan, demanding action against the accused.