{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Grandfather Shoots Lawyer Grandson Dead in Lonavala Over Property Dispute After Cover-Up Attempt Fails",
  "summary": "An 83-year-old man shot his 33-year-old lawyer grandson at a Lonavala hotel following a dispute over selling land, leading to the arrest of four family members for tampering with evidence.",
  "content": "A bitter family conflict over real estate turned deadly in the hill station of Lonavala, where an 83-year-old grandfather allegedly shot and killed his 33-year-old grandson. The victim, identified as practicing lawyer Abhay Marathe, died instantly from a gunshot wound to the chest. While the family initially attempted to pass off the tragedy as an accidental discharge from a hunting rifle, rigorous forensic and police investigation dismantled their claims, exposing a premeditated murder followed by an elaborate attempt to destroy evidence.\n\nHospital Autopsy and Inconsistencies in the Accidental Fire Story\nFollowing the shooting, Abhay's body was transferred to Sassoon Hospital in Pune for an autopsy. When local police questioned family members at the medical facility, the explanations offered regarding how the firearm went off seemed entirely inconsistent with the physical evidence. Sandeep Singh Gill, Superintendent of Police for Pune Rural, noted that the nature and placement of the gunshot wound on Abhay's chest did not align with an unintended misfire. Accidental discharges typically create distinct entry trajectories and contact injuries that were noticeably absent, raising immediate red flags among investigating officers.\n\nCrime Branch Detectives Uncover Blood Spatters at Hotel Scene\nPrompted by the suspicious post-mortem findings, a team from the local crime branch visited the hotel where the incident occurred. Upon inspecting the reception area, detectives discovered a large bloodstain on the wall situated near the counter. Furthermore, blood splatters were detected at a height of approximately five feet from the floor. These physical markers clearly indicated that Abhay was standing upright when the bullet struck him, strongly contradicting the narrative that the weapon had discharged while lying down or being handled casually. Subsequent questioning of the hotel manager and staff confirmed an ongoing dispute.\n\nDeadly Clash Over Property Sale Plans\nInterrogations revealed that tension had been simmering between Abhay and his grandfather, Motiram Marathe, over plans to dispose of a family-owned property. Abhay favored selling the land, but Motiram was adamantly opposed to the transaction, creating persistent friction between the two. The conflict escalated dramatically around 11:30 AM on Monday when another heated argument broke out at the hotel. As tempers flared, Abhay advanced toward his grandfather, prompting Motiram to pull out his licensed rifle and fire directly into his grandson's chest, killing him on the spot.\n\nFour Relatives Arrested for Concealing Evidence and Removing DVR\nImmediately following the shooting, relatives rushed to orchestrate a cover-up to protect Motiram and deceive law enforcement authorities. Abhay's sister, uncle, aunt, and cousin converged on the premises, moving the body into a hotel room to conceal it from public view. The group also dismantled the surveillance system, removing the security cameras along with the digital video recorder (DVR), while threatening hotel employees to ensure their silence. Only after these measures were completed did the relatives notify Abhay's parents about his death.\n\nPolice have arrested four individuals on charges of destroying evidence and attempting to mislead investigators. The arrested persons include the victim's sister Rajashree Pawar, his 54-year-old uncle Hiraman Marathe, his aunt Kavita Marathe, and his 32-year-old cousin Manoj Marathe. Investigators are currently tracing where the surveillance hardware was stashed. Authorities also noted that Motiram possessed two licensed rifles originally procured for hunting back in 1970, and ballistic experts are working to confirm which specific firearm was used in the fatal shooting alongside tracking the weapon's post-incident movements.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis tragedy underscores the severe legal and personal perils associated with family property conflicts and the handling of private firearms.\n\n• In Maharashtra: Law enforcement in Pune and Lonavala is intensifying scrutiny over privately held vintage firearms and unresolved property feuds. Families possessing decades-old hunting permits may face stricter compliance audits and verification processes regarding firearm storage.\n• Across India: Escalating disagreements over ancestral land transactions highlight the critical need for professional legal arbitration rather than informal confrontations. Citizens navigating partition disputes should utilize documented legal channels to prevent volatile family escalations.\n• Legal Consequences: Tampering with a crime scene or concealing digital evidence attracts severe criminal charges, leading to the immediate arrest of involved relatives. Fabricating an accidental death narrative is treated as a major offense carrying strict non-bailable legal repercussions.\n• Firearm Safety: The incident emphasizes the growing necessity for tighter oversight and regular mental fitness audits for elderly gun license holders. Weapon owners must ensure licensed firearms remain securely locked to prevent spontaneous domestic violence.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe fatal shooting stemmed from deep-seated animosity over plans to liquidate an ancestral asset, which erupted into an armed confrontation during an argument at a family-run establishment.\n\n• Immediate Trigger: A fierce verbal confrontation broke out on Monday morning around 11:30 AM between lawyer Abhay Marathe and his grandfather over the sale of land. As Abhay stepped toward him during the quarrel, the 83-year-old Motiram brandished his hunting rifle and fired a fatal shot into his grandson's chest.\n• Underlying Dispute: The two had been locked in a protracted disagreement regarding whether to sell a prime property. Abhay was actively pushing for the sale while Motiram vehemently opposed parting with the asset, creating long-standing domestic friction.\n• Attempted Cover-Up: In a bid to shield the patriarch, relatives relocated the body into a hotel room and disconnected the CCTV cameras along with the DVR unit. Their fabrication unravelled when forensic teams detected high blood spatter on the wall and autopsies disproved the accidental misfire theory.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Who was the victim in the Lonavala shooting incident?\nThe victim was 33-year-old practicing lawyer Abhay Marathe.\n\n2. Who allegedly fired the fatal shot and what is his age?\nThe accused is the victim's 83-year-old grandfather, Motiram Marathe.\n\n3. Where did the shooting take place?\nThe incident occurred near the reception counter of a hotel located in Lonavala.\n\n4. What was the root cause of the fatal dispute?\nThe confrontation was triggered by a long-standing disagreement over selling a family property.\n\n5. Who has been arrested for attempting to destroy evidence?\nPolice arrested Abhay's sister Rajashree Pawar, uncle Hiraman Marathe, aunt Kavita Marathe, and cousin Manoj Marathe.\n\n6. How did the accused obtain the weapon used in the crime?\nMotiram Marathe held licenses for two hunting rifles issued back in 1970.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/crime/lonavala-men-jamina-ke-jhagare-para-83-varshiya-dada-ne-vakila-pote-ko-goli-se-uraya-hadasa-batane-ki-sajisha-nakama-44491",
  "category": "Crime",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-07",
  "tags": [
    "Lonavala",
    "Pune Police",
    "Abhay Marathe",
    "Motiram Marathe",
    "Property Dispute",
    "Crime Branch"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}