Grandfather arrested for murdering lawyer grandson in Lonavla hotel after disputed property fight
Police detained 83-year-old Motiram Marathe on murder charges after his 33-year-old grandson, lawyer Abhay Marathe, was shot dead during a property dispute at a Lonavla hotel.
Authorities initially recorded the death of lawyer Abhay Marathe as an accidental shooting while his grandfather, Motiram Marathe, was cleaning a 12-bore rifle at a Lonavla hotel. A post-mortem at Sassoon General Hospital revealed the chest wound could not have resulted from an accidental discharge, prompting a crime-branch probe. Police discovered blood pools and splatters on the hotel walls, indicating the fatal shot was fired inside the premises during a dispute over the sale of a property.
Motiram, who holds two licensed rifles dating back to 1970, allegedly shot his grandson after the latter charged at him. Relatives Rajashri Pawar, Hiraman Marathe, Kavita Marathe and Manoj Marathe were arrested for allegedly destroying CCTV footage and other evidence. The accused face murder, evidence-tampering and arms-law charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Indian Arms Act.
Why it matters
The case highlights how family disputes can escalate into violent crime and underscores the importance of forensic scrutiny in homicide investigations.
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