Navi Mumbai man strangles mother, smashes her head; arrested in Vashi
Synopsis
A 42-year-old man in Navi Mumbai's Vashi allegedly strangled his 65-year-old mother and smashed her head against the floor over a family dispute — reportedly furious that she would not let his wife live with them and favoured his sister's family. He stayed at the scene screaming until neighbours called the police. The case is the second such matricide reported in India within two weeks.
Key Takeaways
Mahesh Ratnakar Kadam, 42 , was arrested for allegedly murdering his mother, Manda Ratnakar Kadam, 65 , in Vashi, Navi Mumbai on 9 August 2025 .
The accused allegedly strangled her with a piece of cloth and slammed her head against the floor, causing death on the spot.
Police say the motive was a family dispute — the mother reportedly refused to let his wife live with them and allegedly favoured his sister's family.
A case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita ; the accused is remanded to police custody until 13 August .
A similar matricide was reported in Maidangarhi, south Delhi on 29 July , where a son allegedly killed his mother over liquor money.
A 42-year-old man allegedly murdered his 65-year-old mother by strangling her with a piece of cloth and repeatedly slamming her head against the floor at their residence in Juhu Village, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, on the evening of 9 August 2025. The accused, Mahesh Ratnakar Kadam, was arrested by Vashi Police Station personnel and has been remanded to police custody until 13 August.
What Happened
Mahesh Ratnakar Kadam, a resident of Ashtavinayak Society, Sector-11, Vashi, allegedly killed his mother, Manda Ratnakar Kadam, inside their home. According to police, he strangled her with a piece of cloth and then smashed her head against the floor, causing her death on the spot. Neighbours heard screaming and alerted the police, who reached the scene and took custody of the body.
Motive: A Festering Family Dispute
According to Senior Police Inspector Shashikant Chandekar, the accused harboured deep resentment towards his mother over two long-standing grievances. First, she had reportedly refused to allow his wife to live with them. Second, Mahesh allegedly believed that his mother devoted the bulk of her attention and care to the family of his sister, Rupali Devlekar. Police say this accumulated anger drove him to commit the act.
How the Case Was Registered
A complaint was filed by the victim's son-in-law, Mangesh Kashinath Devlekar, a resident of Mankhurd. Acting on it, the Vashi Police Station team arrested Mahesh Kadam swiftly. A case has been registered against him under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 'Based on the information received, we reached the spot and subsequently arrested the accused. A case has been registered against him under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,' Senior Police Inspector Chandekar said.
A Disturbing Pattern of Matricide
This incident is not isolated. On 29 July, a 60-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her son in Maidangarhi, south Delhi, after she refused to give him money for liquor. The accused in that case, identified as Amod Pandit, reportedly attacked his mother with a spade after initially assaulting her with his fists and feet. The deceased's daughter-in-law, Ganita Devi, said she was informed of the incident by a relative and rushed to the house. Pandit was subsequently arrested.
Investigation Status
Mahesh Kadam remains in police custody as investigators piece together the full sequence of events. The court has extended his remand until 13 August, and further investigation is underway. Residents of Ashtavinayak Society have been left shaken by the incident, which unfolded in a residential neighbourhood on a Sunday evening.
Point of View
Caregiver resentment, and substance dependence is claiming lives that rarely make national headlines. What is striking in the Vashi case is the reported trigger: a mother's refusal to accommodate a daughter-in-law and her perceived favouritism toward another child. These are mundane, familiar household tensions — which is precisely what makes the outcome so alarming. India's legal framework now has the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in place, but enforcement and early intervention in family-violence situations remain weak links that no statute alone can fix.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Vashi mother murder case?
Mahesh Ratnakar Kadam, a 42-year-old resident of Ashtavinayak Society, Sector-11, Vashi, was arrested for allegedly murdering his 65-year-old mother, Manda Ratnakar Kadam, on 9 August 2025. He has been remanded to police custody until 13 August.
What was the motive behind the Vashi matricide?
According to police, Mahesh Kadam harboured deep resentment toward his mother because she refused to allow his wife to live with them and allegedly devoted more care and attention to his sister Rupali Devlekar's family. This accumulated grievance reportedly drove him to commit the act.
Under which law has the case been registered?
The case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to murder. Senior Police Inspector Shashikant Chandekar confirmed the charge after the accused was taken into custody.
How did the police come to know about the incident?
After the alleged killing, Mahesh Kadam reportedly stayed at the scene and began screaming. Neighbours heard the commotion, rushed to the residence, and informed the police. A team from Vashi Police Station arrived, secured the scene, and took custody of the body.
Is this an isolated incident?
No. A similar case was reported on 29 July in Maidangarhi, south Delhi, where a man identified as Amod Pandit allegedly beat his 60-year-old mother to death with a spade after she refused to give him money for liquor. Pandit was also arrested.
