A 37-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her estranged husband on Tuesday night in Dashmesh Nagar, Zirakpur. Poonam was a native of Madhya Pradesh and had been living with Rajiv Rishi Raj (54) since 2022 in a rented house, police sources said.
According to Rajiv’s complaint, Poonam’s estranged husband Ved Prakash Pathak had returned after around four years and wanted her to come back with him. When Poonam refused, a heated argument erupted and turned into a violent confrontation.
Police have filed a murder case against Ved Prakash, who left the scene after the attack and is now absconding.
The dispute turned violent at the Zirakpur home.
According to Rajiv's statement to police, Ved Prakash arrived at the couple's home in Dashmesh Nagar on Tuesday morning along with Poonam's brother Bablu.
Ved Prakash asked Poonam to come with him. She refused, and Ved Prakash and Rajiv got into an argument.
Rajiv said the situation became physical when Ved Prakash slapped him during the argument. Poonam then intervened.
At that point, Ved Prakash allegedly took a knife out of his bag and stabbed Poonam multiple times.
Poonam suffered serious injuries and died at the scene, the complaint says.
Accused of fleeing with the knife.
After Poonam was stabbed, Rajiv and her brother Bablu allegedly tried to catch Ved Prakash.
However, the accused was able to escape from the spot. He fled with the knife and his bag, the complaint said.
Police have now filed a murder case against Ved Prakash Pathak based on Rajiv’s statement. He is still absconding, and efforts are on to trace him.
Police will focus on the context of the confrontation and the events before and after the alleged stabbing.
The allegations against Ved Prakash have not been proven in court.
Poonam had been living with Rajiv since 2022.
Rajiv said he works in the private sector and had been living in Zirakpur for a job.
He said his first wife died in 2007. Rajiv later moved to Zirakpur, where he and Poonam began living together in 2022 by mutual consent.
According to Rajiv, he later learned that Poonam had not legally divorced her first husband, Ved Prakash Pathak.
Poonam and Ved Prakash had a rocky relationship, the complaint says. But despite their separation, Ved Prakash had continued to ask Poonam to return with him.
Poonam refused his requests.
Police register murder case.
The police filed a murder case against Ved Prakash based on Rajiv’s complaint.
The accused is yet to be arrested. He allegedly ran out of the house after the stabbing, and police are looking for him.
The information supplied did not state the precise law passages used in the case.
Investigators will also need to establish the timeline of events. They will use witness accounts and other evidence collected from the scene.
Rajiv and Bablu were present when the alleged attack took place. Their statements are likely to be recorded as part of the investigation. These statements could help investigators understand the events that led to Poonam’s death.
A 37-year-old woman was stabbed to death allegedly by her estranged husband in Dashmesh Nagar, Zirakpur on Tuesday. The victim, Poonam, a native of Madhya Pradesh, was living in a rented house with a Rajasthan native, Rajiv Rishi Raj, since 2022.
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Investigation underway.
The case is based on Poonam’s dispute with her estranged husband, who wants her back with him.
According to Rajiv's complaint, the dispute got worse after Ved Prakash arrived at the Zirakpur house. After an argument with Rajiv, he attacked Poonam with a knife.
Poonam died at the scene, while Ved Prakash escaped before he could be detained.
Police are now trying to locate the accused. The allegations against Ved Prakash are still allegations until the investigation is completed and the case is decided by a court.