BENGALURU: A 50-year-old cab driver was arrested by Hulimavu police after he allegedly poured petrol on his former live-in partner and set her ablaze in full public view on Hommadevanahalli Main Road near Bannerghatta on Saturday afternoon.
The woman sustained 60% burns and is being treated at a hospital. Her condition is said to be critical.
The accused, Vittal (50), is a resident of Malenallasandra in Bannerghatta, while the victim, Vanajakshi (25), is a homemaker and a resident of Bilvaradahalli in Bannerghatta.
The police said that around 1 pm on Saturday, Vanajakshi, her present live-in partner Muniyappa (49) and an elderly relative were heading towards St John’s Hospital in a car to visit a family member. Vittal followed them and kept honking. When Muniyappa stopped the vehicle, Vittal got down from his taxi carrying petrol in a can and splashed it on
the car. As Muniyappa and Vanajakshi stepped out of the car and started running, sensing danger, Vittal chased Vanajakshi.
When she fell down, he poured petrol on her and set her on fire with a lighter. Two bystanders tried to rescue her and one of them sustained minor burns. As people started gathering, Vittal ran away from the spot. The crowd managed to douse the fire using mats and bedsheets. Vanajakshi was rushed to Victoria Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment, the police said.
Based on Muniyappa’s complaint, an attempt-to-murder case was registered and Vittal was arrested on Saturday night.
The investigation revealed that Vanajakshi had separated from her husband three years ago, and he had passed away three months ago. She lived with Vittal for about a year and had left him recently and started living with Muniyappa. This allegedly enraged the accused, who attacked her, the police added.