London: An Indian-origin surgeon murdered his wife and leapt from a 49-metre bridge with his two-year-old son on suspicion that she was having an affair with a fellow doctor, an inquest was told in London.

Dr Jaya Chiti, 41, went into "a jealous rage after discovering flirtatious e-mails" between his wife Anupama, 36, a consultant radiologist, and a former colleague, the inquest heard yesterday (July 28, 2004).

The surgeon stabbed his wife to death with a kitchen knife at their home and then jumped from a bridge over the River Orwell at Ipswich, Suffolk, clutching his son Pranau on February 1. Both died of injuries caused by the impact and their bodies were discovered on the riverbed.

The couple's older son, Ani, 11, who was sleeping in his room was unharmed.

Recording statements on the deaths of Anupama, Pranau and Chiti, Suffolk Coroner Peter Dean said, "If Jaya had read e-mails exchanged between Anupama and Dr William Dunn, a former colleague at Queen's Medical Centre, he may have developed the perception that there may have been more than a friendship going on.

"That may have been the spark that set this tragedy off but to say any more than that will be speculation."

The inquest into the three deaths heard that Chiti's fingerprints were found on a number of printed e-mails exchanged between Mrs Chiti and Dr Dunn. It also heard how the Chitis, who had an arranged marriage, had qualified as doctors in India before moving to Britain to further their careers five years ago.