Father Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering His Son

A father from Mumbai has been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his 20-year-old son in a brutal stabbing. The incident occurred on August 24, 2018, in the Dongri area. The father, Salim Ali Ibrahim Shaikh, murdered his son, Salim Shaikh, after an argument about the son refusing to call his stepmother “ammi” (mother).

Details of the Crime

According to the police report filed by Salim Shaikh’s mother, the father and son had a heated quarrel. The argument became violent when the son refused to refer to his stepmother as "ammi." The situation quickly escalated, and Salim Ali Ibrahim Shaikh attacked his son with a pair of scissors. Fearing for her son’s safety, Salim Shaikh’s mother rushed to the police station for help. By the time the police arrived, her son was found lying in a pool of blood, having been stabbed multiple times.

Father's Defense

During the trial, Salim Ali Ibrahim Shaikh claimed that his son’s death was not a murder, but a suicide. He argued that under the influence of drugs, his son had harmed himself. Surprisingly, Salim Shaikh's mother also supported her husband's version of events, suggesting that her son may have taken his own life.

Court's Decision

The court, however, rejected the father’s claim of suicide. Judge Dr. SD Tawshikar reviewed the evidence and concluded that the injuries were caused before death and were consistent with a homicide. The court also pointed out that the father fled the crime scene, which contradicted the suicide claim. Furthermore, the mother’s quick action to seek police help suggested that her son was not attempting suicide.

The court noted that the nature of the attack, with a sharp object like scissors, showed cruelty and a clear intent to kill. The judge concluded that the act was a “murder” rather than an accidental death or suicide.

Also read: Massive fire in a multi-storey building in Dongri, Mumbai

Mother’s Role

The court acknowledged the emotional dilemma faced by the mother, who had lost her son while also having her husband face legal consequences for the murder. Although she initially tried to support her husband’s story, the court found that she could not fully maintain the false testimony, which ultimately contributed to the conviction.