PUNE: A family’s account of a Lonavla lawyer’s death as an accidental shooting began to unravel after police examining his body found that the bullet wound did not appear consistent with the version they had been given.The discovery led investigators to the hotel where 33-year-old lawyer Abhay Marathe was allegedly shot dead during a dispute over the sale of a property, police said.His 83-year-old grandfather, Motiram Marathe, was arrested on Monday on the charge of murder. Four other relatives were arrested for allegedly destroying evidence, Pune Rural police said.
What happened at the hotel
Lonavla City police were alerted by a hospital on Monday afternoon that Abhay, from Bhushi, had died from a bullet injury.His family told doctors and police that he had been cleaning Motiram’s 12-bore rifle inside their hotel when it accidentally went off. The bullet hit Abhay in the chest, killing him instantly.Police initially registered an accidental death case.But when Abhay’s body was sent to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune for post-mortem, Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill, additional superintendent Shubham Kumar and local crime branch inspector Pramod Kshirsagar examined the injury.“Self-inflicted or accidental firearm injuries are different from the injury we found on Abhay. In an accidental firing, it is unlikely for a rifle bullet to hit the chest,” Gill said.
Blood stains raised further questions
The crime branch then went to the hotel where the shooting was said to have taken place.Investigators found a pool of blood on the wall beside the hotel counter and another pool nearby. Blood splatters were also visible on a wall about five feet above the ground.“This increased our suspicion that Abhay was shot dead inside the hotel,” Gill said.Police questioned the hotel workers and manager, who told them about a dispute between Abhay and his grandfather over the sale of a property.
Dispute over property sale
Motiram had opposed the sale of the property, police said.“They again had a heated argument over the issue around 11.30am on Monday. Abhay allegedly charged at his grandfather during the argument. Motiram then took out his licensed rifle and shot his grandson dead,” Gill said.Police allege that the family then tried to make the shooting appear accidental.
CCTV cameras allegedly removed
Gill said Abhay’s sister, uncle, aunt and cousin were alerted after the shooting and came to the hotel.They allegedly moved Abhay’s body into one of the rooms before removing the CCTV cameras and digital video recorder (DVR) and hiding them.“They threatened the hotel employees against revealing anything. Thereafter, they informed Abhay’s parents about the incident,” Gill said. The four relatives — Rajashri Pawar, 58; Hiraman Marathe, 54; Kavita Marathe, Hiraman’s wife; and Manoj Marathe, 32 — were arrested for allegedly destroying evidence.
Two licensed rifles
Police said Motiram had two licensed rifles. He obtained the licences in 1970 for hunting.The accused have been charged under sections 103 (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 241 (destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with sections of the Indian Arms Act.
