By Sagaya Fernando | August 11, 2026
Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA: A 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Maharashtra’s Baramati for allegedly drugging her husband, assaulting him with a cricket bat and attempting to bury him alive inside a brick-and-cement chamber constructed at their residence, police said.
The accused has been identified as Sharmila Pravin Jagtap (38), a B.Pharm graduate and resident of Indraprastha Society on Jamdar Road in Baramati. Her husband, Pravin Jagtap (41), works as a manager with a reputed company, according to police.
The alleged incident occurred between the night of July 31 and the morning of August 1 following a domestic dispute between the couple.
Police said Sharmila allegedly mixed sedatives or sleeping medication into a drink and gave it to her husband, causing him to lose consciousness. She then allegedly assaulted him with a wooden cricket bat.
Investigators said a brick-and-cement chamber had been constructed in the balcony or gallery adjoining the hall of the couple’s flat. Police suspect that the structure had been prepared to conceal Pravin after the alleged attack.
After Pravin became unconscious, Sharmila allegedly covered him with a cloth and placed him inside the chamber. She then reportedly planned to seal the structure using Kadappa stone slabs.
As she was allegedly unable to complete the work herself, labourers were called to the house to help place the stone slabs over the structure.
According to police, Sharmila initially told the workers that her husband had died and that it was his “last wish” to be buried inside the house. However, while working on the structure, the labourers reportedly noticed movement from inside.
When they questioned her, she allegedly changed her explanation and claimed that her husband had voluntarily decided to take “samadhi” while still alive.
Suspicious of the circumstances, the workers alerted the authorities. Police also received a Dial 112 emergency call reporting unusual activity inside the residence.
A Baramati City Police team rushed to the flat. According to Senior Police Inspector Shrishail Ramchandra Chiwadshetti, Sharmila initially told officers that her husband had gone to Pune for office-related work connected with passport formalities.
Police were not convinced and searched the premises.
During the inspection, officers discovered Pravin lying unconscious inside the partially constructed chamber. Police said they noticed movement from his hand and immediately pulled him out.
He was rushed to a hospital in Baramati for treatment. His condition was subsequently reported to be stable.
Assistant Police Inspector Shashikant Ingawale, who is investigating the case, said the alleged attempt to kill Pravin appeared to have followed prolonged domestic disputes between the couple.
Police said Sharmila was taken into custody and questioned. Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the construction of the chamber, the alleged use of medication, the assault and the attempt to seal the structure.
The couple has been married for around 10 years and has two children, a 10-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter. Neither child was reportedly present at the house when the incident occurred.
Pravin’s father, Prakash Kanhoba Jagtap (71), subsequently lodged a complaint with the Baramati City Police. The family was initially reluctant to register a case but later approached police, officials said.
An FIR has been registered against Sharmila under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to attempt to murder and causing hurt by dangerous means. Police are also examining whether additional offences relating to the alleged attempt to conceal evidence are applicable.
Investigators are recording statements from the labourers and other witnesses and collecting forensic and other evidence from the residence.
The extraordinary circumstances of the case — particularly the allegation that the victim was placed inside a purpose-built chamber and nearly sealed inside while still alive — have caused shock in Baramati.
Police said further investigation is underway to establish the precise motive and sequence of events.
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