Mumbai Sessions Court Sentences 39-Year-Old Man To Life Imprisonment For Killing Wife’s Uncle Over Family Dispute

On August 22, 2026, Mumbai's sessions court handed down a life sentence to 39-year-old Afsar Shaikh, also known as Panchi, for the murder of his wife Rehana's uncle, Zulfikar Choudhari, in June 2020. Shaikh was charged based on a complaint from Nasruddin Zulfikar's son and Rehana's cousin. The prosecution claimed that Shaikh had married Rehana against her family's wishes, leading to frequent disputes between Shaikh and the deceased.

Additionally, it was alleged that Shaikh had an affair with a woman named Rubina, which further strained their relationship.

Before the incident, Zulfikar had confronted Shaikh about his relationship with Rubina, warning him against continuing it. On June 12, 2020, at around 9:30 am, Zulfikar went out for work. An hour later, a woman informed the family that Shaikh had stabbed him. Eyewitnesses testified that Shaikh had stabbed Zulfikar multiple times and threatened to kill anyone who intervened. Despite the family's efforts to transport Zulfikar to Rajawadi Hospital, he was pronounced dead.

During the trial, the prosecution presented eyewitness accounts and testimonies from family members and neighbors to establish the conflicts between Shaikh and Zulfikar. The court also considered a video recording of the incident, but rejected it due to improper police procedures in collecting it. Ultimately, the court found Shaikh guilty of murder and denied him any leniency, citing the egregious nature of the crime and its impact on society. Zulfikar worked as a dressmaker, leaving his family heartbroken by his untimely death.