

PUNE: A 65-year-old man was killed after his licensed 12-bore gun went off accidentally while he was cleaning it at his residence in Bhusari Colony in Kothrud on Tuesday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Rajeev Potnis (65), a resident of Silver Residence, right Bhusari Colony, Paud Road. The Kothrud police have registered a case of accidental death.

Kalyanrao Vidhate, senior inspector of the Kothrud police station, told TOI that the incident took place around 10.30am when Potnis was cleaning his 12-bore single-barrel gun in his room. "He had removed one bullet and some screws from the gun. We found the screw driver and screws near Potnis' body," Vidhate said.

He said the police suspect that Potnis may not have been aware of the second bullet inside the gun. "While cleaning the gun, it went off accidentally," Vidhate said.

He said the bullet pierced Potnis' chest from a point blank range killing him on the spot. "The impact was such that Potnis also got burn marks on his chest," Vidhate added.

Vidhate said Potnis was alone in his room when the incident took place. "His wife, his married daughter and her newborn baby were in another room. After hearing the gun shot, Potnis' wife rushed to the room. She saw her husband lying in a pool blood and immediately contacted her brother-in-law, who, in turn, informed us," he said.

Vidhate said when he reached the spot, he found Potnis dead on a chair. "Prima facie, it looked as an accident. We are investigating the matter," he said.

Vidhate said investigations have revealed that Potnis had been using the licensed firearm for the last several years. "Potnis had taken retirement from a private company and was looking after his farm at Urwade village in Mulshi taluka," he added.

