Vithabai Potawade, a divorcee, was caught completely off guard as the relatives pounced on her while she was having bath, according to the Chakan police.

None of the neighbours tried to rescue Vithabai as she was being thrashed by her sisters-in-law Jijabai Potawade, Suman Potawade, Laxmibai Potawade and Jijabai's daughter-in-law Shobha with sticks, police said.

Jijabai lay at the open space outside the bathroom where she was attacked for over half an hour, till her brother Baban returned home and found her stone dead, the police said. The foursome were arrested and produced before a Judicial Magistrate (First Class) who remanded them to police custody.

Vithabai was given a two-acre land when her parents divided their property about five years back. She had allowed her brothers to cultivate the land.