A pregnant woman in Delhi allegedly poured boiling oil and chilli powder on her sleeping husband after a domestic dispute.
In early morning hours of Oct 3rd 2025, Madangir, South Delhi, a 28-year-old man named Dinesh Kumar, who works at a pharmaceutical firm, was allegedly attacked while asleep in his rented home in Ambedkar Nagar. His wife, Sadhna, is accused of pouring boiling oil on his torso and face, then sprinkling red chilli powder over the burns. The couple’s eight-year-old daughter was reportedly in the home at the time.
The attack reportedly took place at about 3:15 a.m. after Dinesh had returned from work, had dinner, and went to bed. He said that he awoke feeling sharp burning pain. When he protested, his wife allegedly threatened that if he shouted, she would pour more oil on him.
Neighbours and the landlord were alerted by his screams. Initial medical evaluation was done at Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital, and subsequently Dinesh was referred to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment of deep burns on his chest, arms and face. The medical report describes his injuries as “dangerous with scalding second degree burns.”
The couple have been married for eight years according to Dinesh, who is originally from Bihar. Their relationship had been troubled and around two years ago, Sadhna had filed a complaint with the Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell against him, but that complaint was resolved via negotiation.
On the day of the incident, a dispute had occurred between the two.
Sadhna has been booked under the following sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023:
Section 118: Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means (hot oil is a heated substance).
Section 124: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc., or other burning or corrosive substances with possible deformity or permanent damage.
Section 326: Mischief by injury, fire, or explosive substance, etc.
Burn injuries caused by hot oil are classified as scalds or thermal burns involving contact with a hot liquid or heated substance. The severity depends on several factors: temperature of the oil, duration of contact, area of skin involved, depth of penetration, and promptness of first aid. 1
First-degree burns (superficial): Affect the epidermis (outer layer). Symptoms may include redness, pain, swelling, no blisters. Heal in about 7-10 days.
Second-degree burns (partial thickness): Extend into the dermis. Characterized by blistering, intense pain, redness, possibly wet appearance. Healing takes longer; may leave pigment changes, potential scarring. 1
Third-degree burns (full thickness): Damage all layers of skin, possibly into deeper tissues. Skin may appear white, brown, charred, or leathery. Nerve endings may be destroyed, meaning there might be loss of pain in some areas. Requires surgical intervention, such as debridement or skin grafts.1
Possible Complications of burns include infections, fluid loss, shock, scarring and contracture of skin and tissues after healing. Psychological effects of burn will also be huge since it will have a lasting scar.
Immediately cool the burn with clean running cool water for 20 minutes (not ice). This helps limit depth and spread of burn.3
Remove any clothing or jewelry from the injured area, unless stuck to skin. Clean gently. 3
Cover with a sterile non-stick dressing. Pain relief with analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Seek medical attention if burn is deep (second degree or more), on face/hands/feet/joints, involves a large area, shows signs of infection, or if victim is elderly, child or has underlying health conditions. 3
References
Healthline. “Burns: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments.” Healthline. Last modified April 25, 2023. Accessed October 10, 2025. https://www.healthline.com/health/burns.
Healthline. “Steam Burn: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention.” Healthline. Last modified May 28, 2019. Accessed October 10, 2025. https://www.healthline.com/health/steam-burn.
NHS Inform. “Burns and Scalds.” NHS Inform. Last modified November 4, 2024. Accessed October 10, 2025. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/injuries/skin-injuries/burns-and-scalds/.
(Rh/Eth/TL)