Shivaji Park woman, mum-in-law had approached cops 2 years ago

While probing the deaths of a 68-year-old woman and her daughter-in-law, the Shivaji Park police have found out that the women had a history of quarrelling and had approached the police to complain against each other in the past. At the time, the police had resolved the matter amicably.

The bodies of Usha Kangutkar and her daughter-in-law Akshata (42) were found at their Jai Hanuman Housing Society home on Thursday morning. According to Mumbai police spokesperson and deputy commissioner of police Ashok Dudhe, on the day of the incident, Askhata's husband Laxmikant – a computer operator – had left home around 7.45am.

The couple's son Rajdutt, who was sleeping in his room, woke up around 9.15am to see his grandmother lying on bed and his mother on the floor. Rajdutt then informed his father, who in turn informed the neighbours, and the police were called.

"Rajdutt told the police that on Wednesday night, an argument had broken out between the two women. The argument continued on Thursday morning, following which Akshata apparently strangled Usha and then consumed poison. The post-mortem reports confirmed that Usha died due to strangulation while Akshata died of consuming a poisonous substance.

"Akshata and Laxmikant got married in 2000. After just about a year, Akshata and Usha started having regular arguments. Two years ago, they had approached the Shivaji Park police but the police had resolved the issue amicably," said police inspector Gulab Patil.