A 79-year-old retired CEO of a private company was charged with attempting to murder his 76-year-old wife in Mumbai on Friday, according to a report by the news outlet The Times of India.Vishnukant Belur, the accused, allegedly stabbed his wife, Shakuntala, repeatedly in the back of her head with a set of five kitchen knives during the early hours of the day. He then attempted to take his own life by slashing his neck.Both Vishnukant and Shakuntala survived the incident but are currently hospitalised. Police have stated that Shakuntalas condition is critical due to the severity of her injuries.Meanwhile, Vishnukant, who confessed to the crime, explained to investigators that both he and his wife had been suffering from ailments for several years, and he had grown weary of taking care of her. Authorities are considering whether to arrest him after his discharge from the hospital, taking into account his fragile physical and mental health.Just a day prior to the incident, the couple had hired a house help named Anita Thorat to provide care for Shakuntala for 12 hours daily.The retired CEO had reportedly expressed his frustration with life and the responsibility of caring for his ailing wife. The couple resided alone in Mumbais Kandivali (East), with their son living overseas. Both Vishnukant and Shakuntala suffered from diabetes, with Shakuntala being bedridden and Vishnukant having limited mobility, relying on a walker.Retired ex-CEO in Mumbai wanted to be free in murder-suicide attemptAnita Thorat, the hired house help, recounted that she had worked for the couple from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, preparing tea and snacks for them. However, on Friday morning, when she arrived for work, there was no response at the door. After attempting to contact Vishnukant, she enlisted the help of a security guard. They eventually gained entry to the flat, only to find Shakuntala lying on the floor in a pool of blood, and Vishnukant seated in the living room.“Shakuntala was on the floor in a pool of blood, only partially conscious. The walls and her bed were splattered with blood. Vishnukant was seated on a chair in the living room. I was terrified and we summoned the neighbours,” Thorat told TOI reporters.According to Thorats statement to the police, Vishnukant informed neighbours that Shakuntala had asked for sweets and water around 2:00 AM. He claimed that he was tired of his life and looking after his wife, expressing a desire to be free.A neighbour alerted the police after noticing injuries on Vishnukants neck. The police promptly rushed both Vishnukant and Shakuntala to the hospital.Investigators determined that Vishnukant had stabbed his wife multiple times behind her head and ear between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM. Despite the injuries, Shakuntala did not raise an alarm. After the attack, Vishnukant remained at home for several hours, during which time Shakuntala continued to bleed profusely until being discovered by the house help and the security guard.
