India, July 21 -- Kerala man Satheesh Shankar, the husband of Athulya Shekhar, who was found dead in her Sharjah apartment in the UAE on Saturday, admitted to having physically assaulted her.

He reportedly justified beating her and said it happened because "she is mine, and mine alone".

The Kerala woman's death reportedly coincided with her 30th birthday and the first day of a new job. The Kerala Police registered a murder case against Satheesh after Athulya's mother filed a complaint, alleging that he strangled her, kicked her stomach, and hit her head with a plate between July 18 and 19, resulting in her death.

Speaking to media on Sunday, Satheesh admitted that he used to beat his wife, saying that he did so "out of love".

"I won't...