Cop arrested after wife found hanging in forest, son says father beat mother with belt

By Sumesh Rajan | October 15, 2026

Kankavli, Maharashtra, INDIA: A police constable has been arrested in connection with the suspicious death of his wife, also a police constable, whose body was found hanging from a tree in a forest in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. The arrest followed a complaint by the deceased woman’s sister, alleging prolonged physical and mental harassment by her husband.

The deceased, identified as Smita Mane, was posted at Kankavli police station. Her body was discovered in the Bidwadi-Humbarne forest area on Sunday October 11. Her husband, Sachin Mane, who also serves in the police department, was arrested on Monday October 12 night following allegations of domestic abuse and suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

According to the complaint lodged by Smita’s sister, Reshma Jadhav, Sachin frequently questioned his wife’s character and allegedly subjected her to physical and mental harassment. The family suspects that Smita either died by suicide due to the alleged abuse or was murdered as part of a conspiracy.

The case took a disturbing turn after Smita’s young son reportedly told relatives that his father had assaulted his mother with a belt before she fell in the bathroom.

“Papa hit Mummy with a belt at night, causing her to fall in the bathroom,” the child reportedly told family members, according to the complaint.

Relatives also claimed to have discovered strands of long, cut hair scattered on the floor when they visited Smita’s residence, raising further suspicions about the circumstances preceding her disappearance.

Police said Smita had been missing for two days before her body was discovered. Her husband had lodged a missing person complaint on October 8, claiming that she had left home without informing anyone. He had reportedly given the same explanation to her family members.

Following the allegations, police and forensic experts inspected the couple’s residence and collected evidence. Investigators seized a belt suspected to have been used in the alleged assault, Smita’s mobile phone and strands of hair recovered from the floor. The seized materials have been sent for forensic examination.

Smita’s body was shifted to CPR Hospital in Kolhapur for a post-mortem examination. Investigators are awaiting the autopsy findings to establish the cause of death and determine whether the case involves suicide or homicide.

Police Inspector Vikas Badve of Kudal is investigating the case.

Police are examining the allegations of domestic violence, the child’s reported account and the forensic evidence to reconstruct the events leading to Smita’s death.