How a man’s fight with live-in partner ‘destroyed’ lives of 60 families

Pune, October 23: A 35-year-old auto rickshaw driver’s domestic problem has ruined the lives of over 60 families in Pune. On Thursday, a major fire had engulfed hutments in Meenatai Thakare colony in Gultekdi area.

Initially it was thought that short-circuit led to the fire which was spread further by LPG cylinder blast. Now a thorough investigation by Pune city police has revealed it was Santosh Mahadev Sonawane who first set his hut on fire after quarrelling with his partner Sheela. About 66 families have lost properties worth Rs 44.5 lakhs.

Based on complaint from Sonwane’s neighbour Chandramma Malesh (58), an FIR against Sonawane has been registered for offence under section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc.) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Sudhakar Pathare said, “We have evidence that it Sonawane lit the fire in his house, which engulfed about 60 more shanties in the area.”

As per the police investigation, Sonawane’s wife deserted him as he used to fight with her after getting drunk. The couple has three children. For the last one year, Sonawane lived with Sheela and his three children.

Chandramma in her complaint told police that both Sonawane and Sheela used to quarrel on petty issues and abuse each other. “On Thursday they were fighting since morning. Around 4 pm, he told Sheela that he is fed up with daily fights and that he will set the house on fire. Within five minutes we could smell Kerosene and their shout of leaving the home. Soot fell in our house and immediately I went out of home along with our cylinder. Soon the whole neighbourhood was engulfed by the fire,” she recalled while narrating the incident on Friday at the police station.

Senior Police Inspector Deepak Nikam, in-charge of Swargate police station, said, “We have arrested Sonawane. Investigations have revealed that after fighting his partner who was cooking, he poured kerosene in house, removed the LPG pipeline and set it on fire. Sonawane fled followed by his partner and his children”.

Ahsan Kazi (25), a tempo driver, said, “We have lost everything in the fire. My father had bought this room and we had got it extended. All our savings and documents have been burnt.”

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