Patna: A police sub-inspector (SI), posted at Safiasarai police station in Munger district, was arrested on Sunday and sent to judicial custody for allegedly killing his wife over dowry demands, police said.The SI’s wife, Madhu Kumari (29), was found lying in a pool of blood with a bullet injury to her chest at their rented house in Jamalpur late on Saturday evening. Madhu, wife of SI Chandan Kumar, was rushed to a private hospital by her husband and neighbours, where doctors declared her brought dead.At the time of the incident, only the couple was present at the house. Madhu was married to Chandan, a native of Bettiah in West Champaran district, in Feb 2025. The couple had been living in a rented accommodation in Jamalpur for the past three months.According to police, Chandan claimed that Madhu shot herself while he was in the bathroom. However, Madhu’s family lodged an FIR accusing him of murder for dowry, following which the SI was arrested.Madhu was the daughter of Ranjeet Kumar, a resident of Bithan village in Samastipur district. Her family said she and Chandan met while preparing for the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examinations, and their friendship later turned into a relationship. After Chandan was selected as a sub-inspector, the family agreed to the marriage, relatives said.Madhu’s family alleged that they had given Rs 55 lakh in cash and a four-wheeler as dowry at the time of the marriage. They further claimed that Chandan continued to demand money and other valuables, leading to frequent disputes between the couple.Police said neighbours reported an argument between the couple on Saturday morning. In the evening, locals heard a gunshot from the house and alerted the police. Madhu was found lying in a pool of blood and was taken to a private hospital in Munger, where she was declared dead. Chandan was interrogated at the hospital till late night.Chandan told police, “I was in the bathroom when I heard a gunshot. When I came out, I saw Madhu lying on the ground with a bullet injury to her chest. With the help of neighbours, I took her to the hospital, but she died.”Madhu’s father, who reached Munger after being informed of the incident, rejected the claim of suicide. “Our daughter has been murdered. How can a woman shoot herself in the chest? Only her husband was present at the house. There had been disputes between the two for the past few months,” he alleged.Munger superintendent of police Syed Imran Masood said a murder case was registered based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father. “It has been alleged that the SI was demanding money and other valuables and that Madhu was harassed over dowry. Based on the FIR, the accused has been arrested and sent to jail,” the SP said.
