Husband Held After Fatal Home Birth in Kerala

Police arrested Sirajudheen on Monday night after his wife, Asma, died from excessive bleeding during a home childbirth in their rented Malappuram residence on April 5. Charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and evidence tampering, he moved her body to Perumbavoor, Ernakulam district, before authorities intervened and shifted it to a taluk hospital, police said.

Malappuram SP Vishwanadh R told reporters that initial evidence points to Sirajudheen pushing for the home delivery, Asma’s fifth pregnancy her first two births occurred in hospitals, the last three at home. The 35-year-old’s husband, a YouTube creator and religious speaker from Alappuzha, may have relocated to Malappuram for work, with police now probing others present during the delivery and any promotion of home births.

State Health Minister Veena George labeled the incident “a deliberate act of murder,” voicing concern over rising negative trends despite Kerala’s low maternal and infant mortality rates. The investigation continues to clarify the events leading to Asma’s death.