Man remanded in custody for throwing chemical on ex-lover

Police claimed Jerrit John had been planning the attack for around a month after Hosbetkar sent him a message that she was breaking up with him

Film production firm owner Jerrit John (46), arrested in Nalasopara on Saturday for allegedly throwing a chemical on Worli physiotherapist Aryanka Hosbetkar (26) three days earlier, was produced before a holiday court on Sunday and remanded in police custody till November 16.

Police claimed John had been planning the attack for around a month after Hosbetkar sent him a message that she was breaking up with him.

John of Navi Mumbai has allegedly told police Hosbetkar sent him a message the day he filed for divorce from his wife. "I told Hosbetkar our relationship was not a machine that could be switched on and off when she wanted. I wanted to take revenge," he allegedly said.

Police claimed John had admitted he wanted to damage Hosbetkar's face.

They said he bought three chemicals from a dealer in Masjid Bunder. Being the owner of a production firm, he regularly handled cameras and films and was vell-versed with corrosive chemicals. He allegedly told police he bought the chemical for Rs 100 and planned the attack when all his attempts to reconcile with Aryanka failed.

Police said they could not recover the message sent by Hosbetkar as John formatted his mobile phone. "We have sent the mobile phone for analysis to decode and extract messages. We are also checking his laptop," said Dhananjay Kulkarni, DCP (Zone 5).

He said police had secured John's custody and would investigate the motive behind the attack and the place from where he sourced the chemical.

"We have sent the chemical for analysis, based on which we will decide whether to book John under Explosives Act and for attempt to murder," said Kulkarni.

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