Jajpur: A 45-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly throwing acid on his wife because he suspected she was cheating on him.

The incident took place at Malapada village in Jajpur Sadar police limits. The woman suffered critical burn injuries on her face and back.

Neighbours rescued the victim and admitted her to the local hospital. Later, she was shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Jajpur when her condition deteriorated. The arrested, identified as Bhagirathi Mahalik, was forwarded to the local court on Sunday and later remanded to judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected.

According to the complaint lodged with police by the victim's daughter, her father, Bhagirathi, had been suspecting her mother's integrity. He allegedly tortured his wife physically and mentally, the complaint said.

"The incident occurred on Saturday evening when my father picked up a fight with my mother, got enraged and abused her without any provocation. In a fit of rage, he took out a bottle of acid and hurled it at my mother," she said.

The woman suffered serious burns and neighbours came to her rescue hearing her screams. By then, the accused had fled the scene.

On the basis of a complaint filed by the couple's 19-year-old daughter, Jajpur police registered a case and started investigation. The cops arrested the accused from a neighbouring village in the early hours of Sunday.

"The couple has four children, including two daughters. Bhagirathi suspected that his wife had been cheating on him and they frequently quarrelled. He allegedly tortured his wife both physically and mentally at the slightest provocation," said Manoranjan Das, officer in charge of Jajpur Sadar police station.

The condition of the victim is stable, he said.