KOLLAM: The condition of the young lawyer, Aiswariya, 26, who was set on fire by her husband in the middle of the road, has improved. The Kottarakkara police took the statement of Aiswariya. She is undergoing treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

Her husband Akhil Raj, 30, has been charged for attempting to murder Aiswariya and has been remanded after being presented in court. He will be taken into police custody for further investigation. The police say that Akhil is a drug addict and used to physically assault his wife under the influence of intoxicant substances. Both Akhil Raj and Aiswariya got married in 2016 but they both became estranged because of his drug abuse and also of the fact that Aiswariya was not allowed to practice in court or pursue her studies.

Their divorce case is being heard at the Kottarakkara Family Court. Aiswariya’s family demanded that the car they gave as dowry must be returned to them. Akhil Raj had approached the HC for taking the car with police help.

Meanwhile, the Kottarakkara Court ordered Akhil to pay Aiswariya Rs. 1.2 lakhs as compensation on Saturday. After hearing the verdict, Akhil Raj gave threats inside and outside of the court. Later he poured petrol over Aiswariya at lit her on fire.

After the hearing of the case, Akhil poured petrol into a bottle from his own bike parked at the court premises. The police have gathered the CCTV visuals of this. His intention was to kill his wife and that is why he had a lighter, pepper spray and petrol. Aiswariya tried to escape but Akhil pepper sprayed her and doused her in petrol and lit the fire. Luckily, the fire didn’t spread to her head because she was wearing a helmet.