In a shocking incident, a man from Chennai's Avadi set his wife ablaze. She died on Wednesday despite receiving treatment. The accused, who was arrested in a case of attempt to murder, is now facing murder charges.

According to the police, the victim, identifier as Vishnupriya, and her husband Suresh, who was employed as a car driver, had frequently been getting into verbal spats in the last few months as Suresh allegedly suspected his wife of having an affair with another man. After one such verbal altercation, Vishnupriya left her house to stay in a hostel. Suresh approached her during the lockdown a few days ago and had reportedly said that he would take her to her hometown in Tiruvannamalai. She had agreed and gone along. However, when they reached Avadi, Suresh took out petrol from his vehicle and set her ablaze behind a bush near Melapakkam.

Vishnupriya was immediately rushed to the Kilpauk government hospital by locals, where she succumbed to her injuries. The accused has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. The couple has two children together.