Karkala: Pregnant woman dies mysteriously, husband arrested

R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)

Karkala, Feb 20: A young pregnant woman died under mysterious circumstances at Shirlalu, Ajekar here on Thursday February 20. Her husband was arrested soon after.

The deceased woman, identified as Malini Poojary, was physically and mentally tortured by her husband Ashok Jain, father-in-law Yuvaraj Hegde and mother-in-law Indira Jain, alleged Malini's mother Giddi Poojarti in her complaint filed in the Ajekar police station. Their torture led to her daughter's death, she alleged.

As per law if the wife dies within seven years of marriage, the death has to be investigated under the guidance of local Tahsildar. A team led by Karkala tahsildar Babu Devadiga conducted investigations and the body was sent to Manipal KMC hospital for post-mortem.

Shirlalu Malligemane resident Yuvaraj Hegde and Indira Jain have three children.  The elder daughter has married and is staying in Mumbai and the youngest daughter is also married and is living in Kavoor in Mangalore. Their second child Ashok Jain, however, has a past record and this is the second time he has been arrested.

Earlier on March 2, 2006, Ashok had married Ashalatha Jain from Ujire, who was residing at Bangalore's Nanjegowda Layout HAL colony. She died within 13 days of her marriage. It is said that she was poisoned.  Karkala rural police who conducted the investigation sent accused Ashok Jain to prison.

Ashok Jain was released from prison, after which changed his residence. In another instance, he was hit by a rowdy by a machete and a case was registered in Karkala town police station.

He was reportedly after the wife of his friend while staying in a room for which he was assaulted by rowdy Ajekar Santu, his accomplices Gopala Mugera and Suresh with machete, it is said.

Ashok was working as the owner and driver of a private bus at Ajekar-Udupi route for some time.  Malini Poojary, daughter of Gopal Poojary and Giddi Poojary, then a first year law student of MGM College used to take the bus everyday from and to college.

He struck a friendship with her, which ultimately turned into love, kidnap, polygamy finally culminated death of Malini.

The parents of Malini have complained that Ashok Jain had kidnapped their daughter in his car and married her.   
After marriage, they had produced their wedding photo before the Ajekar police inspector.  Malini had said that she got married of her own free will and refused to go to her parents. The police had produced the couple in front of the judge who allowed the girl to go with her husband.

Malini was five months pregnant at the time of her death. Sources said that in the days preceding her death, though there was lack of love between them, there were no fights. Ashok's father Yuvaraj Hegde had gone away at 6.30 am on Thursday to deliver milk. Malini was sweeping the verandah then.  When Ashok came home at 7.30 am Ashok was taking Malini in the car to hospital. She had died by then, said Yuvaraj Hegde to the media.

Hospital sources said that Malini was dead when she was brought to the hospital.  When Ashok Jain went to the police station to lodge a complaint, the police took him into custody. Scratches and other wounds are said to have been found on the body.  A mark of blood clot was found on the cheek and there was froth on her mouth. There might have been a fight between the couple before she was poisoned and assaulted, suspect the police.

Police circle inspector M G Naikar is conducting investigation under the direction of ASP Annamalai.  SI Kumar has registered a case.