Woman attacks mother-in-law with knife over property, arrested

 

By Sumesh Rajan | July 24, 2026

Hyderabad, Telengana, INDIA: A 33-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to kill her 57-year-old mother-in-law during a long-running family property dispute in Hyderabad's Secunderabad area, police said.

The incident occurred at around 9 a.m. on July 21 at a residence in Erukala Basti, Chilkalguda, where the two women lived as part of the same extended family.

Police identified the accused as D. Vijayalakshmi and the victim as Devarai Padmavathi. According to investigators, Padmavathi was alone on the first floor of the house when Vijayalakshmi allegedly entered the residence armed with a kitchen vegetable-cutting knife.

Investigators allege that the accused grabbed the victim by her hair, dragged her inside the house, and repeatedly attacked her, causing serious injuries to her neck and fingers.

The assault was interrupted after neighbours heard the victim's screams and rushed into the house. They intervened, rescued Padmavathi, and arranged for her to be taken to Gandhi Hospital, where she received emergency medical treatment. Police said her condition is stable.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the two women had been involved in a prolonged dispute over ownership of the family home. Police believe the ongoing property conflict may have been the motive behind the alleged attack, although the investigation remains ongoing.

Based on the victim's complaint, Chilkalguda Police registered Crime No. 356/2026 under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to the alleged offence.

Investigators inspected the crime scene, collected forensic evidence, examined CCTV footage from the surrounding area, recorded statements from witnesses, and seized the kitchen knife believed to have been used in the attack. Clothing allegedly worn by the accused during the incident was also seized as evidence.

Police arrested Vijayalakshmi on July 22, less than 24 hours after the incident. She was produced before a local court, which remanded her to judicial custody pending further investigation.

Authorities said the allegations against the accused have not been tested in court. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty through the judicial process.