A film producer was arrested after his actor-wife was shot dead yesterday during an alleged highway robbery attempt in West Bengal, police said. The arrest was made after the family of Riya Kumari, an actor from Jharkhand, filed a complaint against her husband Prakash Kumar and his brothers, said Swati Bhangalia, Howrah (Rural) Superintendent of Police.
The couple was travelling from Ranchi to Kolkata with their three-year-old daughter when three men tried to rob the husband of his belongings and shot Ms Kumari dead when she protested, police cited Mr Kumar as claiming.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning on National Highway 16 in Howrah district.
The police seized their car and questioned the husband yesterday suspecting his role in the murder. Mr Kumar, who faces other cases of assault and torture as well, was to be produced in the court today.
Ms Kumari, known by her stage name Isha Aliya, had worked in albums in regional languages.
During interrogation, Mr Kumar claimed that the robbers escaped after firing at his wife. He then drove a bit farther and sought help from the locals. The victim was declared brought dead at a hospital in Uluberia.
