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MUMBAI: A 41-year-old engineer was killed and his live-in partner , a lawyer, sustained burn injuries when acid was allegedly flung at them while on a motorbike at Vasai on Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway early on Tuesday. Valiv police registered a case of murder against the suspect.

Avinash Tiwari, with the merchant navy, lived in Disha Apartment, Kandarpada, Dahisar (W) along with Seema Vishwakarma (38). He had recently returned home. On Monday night, they had gone for dinner to a restaurant on the highway and at 2.30am, they were riding back home.

Tiwari had halted near a petrol pump close to Varsova creek bridge and due to heavy traffic crossed over to the Gujarat lane, and drove in the wrong direction to get to the signal at Ghodbunder junction. As they waited to get to the Mumbai lane, a man walked up and threw a liquid at them, said senior inspector Vilas Chowgule.

Tiwari and Seema fell on the road along with the bike as the suspect ran away, and the liquid, believed to be acid, caused smoke around them. They soon realised their bodies were burning and ran towards the pump, and requested staff to pour water on them. Tiwari called his father Virendra, the complainant in the case.

Other motorists helped them reach Shatabdi hospital in Kandivli. Tiwari, who had sustained burn injuries on his face, chest and abdomen, succumbed to injuries hours later, while Seema, who sustained minor burn injuries on the face and hand, was treated and discharged on Wednesday.

Avinash had divorced his wife in 2004 and Seema, also a divorcee, was his lawyer then. They fell in love and started living-in a few years later. Police suspect the attack was by someone known to the couple.

Police said it was unclear if there was more than one attacker, and if they came in a vehicle. Police are examining CCTV footage for leads on the suspect. Seema said in her statement that she could not see the attacker. She said some liquid was thrown at them while waiting on the motorbike.

An offence under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 326A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid) has been registered.

