In a cramped two‑story flat in Housing Colony, Moksh Verma poured diesel onto his step‑mother Sushma Devi, then struck a match, setting the house ablaze on Wednesday evening.
A video that has circulated online shows the woman screaming as flames licked the walls, neighbors scrambling to douse the fire.
After the blaze, Sushma was rushed by family to District Hospital Udhampur, where doctors attempted first‑aid before transferring her to Government Medical College, Jammu for critical care.
Udhampur Police have detained Moksh Verma and registered a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, while investigators are interrogating him and reviewing the footage.
The incident has stunned the local community, with residents describing the night as a nightmare, and the police have promised a swift trial.