Pune, Oct 07: A family’s account that Lonavla lawyer Abhay Marathe, 33, died after accidentally firing a licensed rifle reportedly came under scrutiny after the nature of his gunshot injury raised questions, leading police to investigate the shooting as a murder. Pune Rural police arrested his 83-year-old grandfather, Motiram Marathe, on Monday on a murder charge and four other relatives for allegedly destroying evidence, according to a report by the Times of India.
Abhay, a resident of Bhushi, was taken to hospital after suffering a bullet injury to his chest. The family told doctors and police that he had been cleaning Motiram’s 12-bore rifle inside their hotel when it discharged accidentally, striking him in the chest and killing him instantly. Police initially registered an accidental death case.
The account came under question after Abhay’s body was sent to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune for post-mortem examination. Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, Additional Superintendent Shubham Kumar and local crime branch inspector Pramod Kshirsagar examined the injury and found it inconsistent, in their assessment, with an accidental or self-inflicted firearm wound.
Gill said the nature of the injury prompted investigators to examine the hotel where the shooting was reported to have occurred. There, investigators found a pool of blood on the wall beside the hotel counter and another nearby. Blood splatters were also found on a wall about five feet above the ground, according to the police account.
Police subsequently questioned hotel employees and the manager. They allegedly told investigators about a dispute between Abhay and Motiram concerning the sale of a property. Police said Motiram had opposed the proposed sale.
According to Gill, the two had another heated argument at around 11.30 am on Monday. Police allege that Abhay charged at his grandfather during the confrontation, after which Motiram took out his licensed rifle and shot him.
Investigators allege that relatives subsequently attempted to present the shooting as an accident. Police said Abhay’s sister, uncle, aunt and cousin came to the hotel after being alerted about the shooting and allegedly moved his body into one of the rooms.
The four relatives allegedly removed the hotel’s CCTV cameras and digital video recorder (DVR) and concealed them. Police also alleged that they threatened hotel employees against disclosing information before informing Abhay’s parents about the incident.
The four arrested relatives were identified as Rajashri Pawar, 58; Hiraman Marathe, 54; Kavita Marathe, Hiraman’s wife; and Manoj Marathe, 32. They face allegations of destroying evidence.
Police said Motiram held licences for two rifles, which he obtained in 1970 for hunting.
The accused have been charged under Sections 103, 238 and 241 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering murder, causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender, and destruction of documents or electronic records to prevent their production as evidence. Police have also invoked provisions of the Indian Arms Act.
