A 23-year-old man died after sustaining a gunshot wound at a gymkhana in Maharashtra's Thane district, with police describing the death as suspicious while saying preliminary findings point towards a possible case of suicide.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening, July 18, at Patil Mountain View Gymkhana in Badlapur, a popular sports facility with cricket turf grounds. The deceased has been identified as Bhuvan Krishna Patil, who reportedly managed the cricket turf business at the premises.
According to the police, Patil was inside the gymkhana when the gunshot was fired. CCTV footage reviewed by investigators shows him walking out of the building moments later in a critically injured and bleeding condition. He later succumbed to his injuries.
During the preliminary investigation, police recovered a revolver from near the body. CCTV footage also indicates that Patil was alone at the cricket turf when the incident took place.
Assistant Police Inspector Shivaji Dhavale of Kulgaon police station said the available evidence suggests the death could be a case of suicide. However, investigators have not ruled out any possibility and are also examining whether foul play was involved.
"The CCTV footage indicates it could be a case of suicide. However, we are also investigating the possibility of murder. The exact cause of death will be established only after the post-mortem report, forensic analysis and completion of the investigation," Dhavale said.
Police have questioned witnesses and the gymkhana's caretaker as part of the investigation. In his preliminary statement, the caretaker told officers that he was asleep inside the premises when the incident occurred and did not witness the shooting.
A forensic team, along with senior police officials, visited the scene to collect ballistic evidence, fingerprint samples and other forensic material. Investigators are also analysing technical data to determine whether there was any suspicious movement in and around the gymkhana at the time of the incident.
An accidental death case has been registered for now, while the post-mortem report is awaited. Police will also record statements from Patil's family members as they continue their investigation.
Officials said the exact circumstances surrounding the 23-year-old's death will become clear only after forensic findings, the autopsy report and other evidence are thoroughly examined.