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Crime
Lonavla: Grandfather charged with murdering lawyer grandson over property dispute
✍️ TOI City
🗓 07 Oct 2026, 09:39 AM
👁 14
Police in Lonavla have charged a grandfather with murdering his 33-year-old lawyer grandson, debunking the family's initial claim of an accidental shooting. Four relatives are also accused of destroying blood evidence at the scene.
A grim reality has emerged in Lonavla, Maharashtra, where police have formally charged Motiram Marathe with the murder of his grandson, Abhay Marathe. Abhay, a 33-year-old lawyer, was found dead from a bullet injury, an incident that the family initially described as an accident while he was cleaning his grandfather's rifle.
However, a thorough investigation by local authorities revealed significant inconsistencies in the family's narrative. Forensic analysis of the crime scene, particularly the pattern of blood splatters, contradicted the claim of an accidental discharge, pointing instead to a premeditated act of violence.
The police report highlights a deep-seated dispute over property as the likely motive behind the killing. This finding has shifted the case from a potential negligence charge to a serious homicide investigation involving close family members.
In addition to charging the grandfather with murder, police have accused four other relatives of actively destroying evidence at the scene. These individuals are now facing legal action for tampering with forensic material that was crucial to solving the case.
However, a thorough investigation by local authorities revealed significant inconsistencies in the family's narrative. Forensic analysis of the crime scene, particularly the pattern of blood splatters, contradicted the claim of an accidental discharge, pointing instead to a premeditated act of violence.
The police report highlights a deep-seated dispute over property as the likely motive behind the killing. This finding has shifted the case from a potential negligence charge to a serious homicide investigation involving close family members.
In addition to charging the grandfather with murder, police have accused four other relatives of actively destroying evidence at the scene. These individuals are now facing legal action for tampering with forensic material that was crucial to solving the case.