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Retired Cabin Crew Members' Tragic Domestic Dispute Ends in Murder
5 Oct
Summary
- 60-year-old retired cabin crew member arrested for murdering estranged wife
- Waited outside her flat for 3 hours before forcing his way in
- Fought with victim for 3 hours before allegedly strangling her to death
On September 27, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded in Mumbai's Powai neighborhood. Rajiv Lala, a 60-year-old retired cabin crew member, was arrested for allegedly murdering his estranged wife, R Shalini Devi, who was also a retired cabin crew member.
According to the Powai police, CCTV footage shows Lala waited quietly outside Devi's flat for three hours before forcing his way in when she opened the door. Once inside, the two engaged in a heated fight that lasted for another three hours, with the neighbors overhearing the commotion.
Lala later claimed the act was not premeditated but rather occurred on the spur of the moment after Devi refused to patch up their relationship. Devi, who was also a lawyer, had 11 injury marks on her body when she was found dead. The couple had remarried each other after their initial divorce but had become estranged again nearly 15 years ago.
Devi's friend and lawyer, Ajit Jadhav, alleged that the police had ignored a complaint against Lala three days before the murder, and had they acted promptly, Devi could have been saved. Jadhav also claimed that at least four non-cognizable offenses were lodged against Lala in the past decade.
