Real estate agent shot at inside car in Tathawade

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: A Pashan-based businessman suffered a bullet wound after one of three unidentified men shot at him inside his car late on Saturday night at Tathawade, on Katraj-Dehu Road bypass.

Immediately after the incident, senior police officers from the Pimpri Chinchwad police commissionerate rushed to the spot. Local restaurateurs rushed the injured businessman — 30-year-old Hari Om Mehersingh Singh — to the hospital for treatment.

“Singh has sustained a bullet injury on his right thigh. He is out of danger,” Senior inspector Satish Mane of Wakad police station told TOI.

Within hours, the Wakad police nabbed the alleged assailant. He is being questioned by the police. “We have detained the suspect and are questioning him,” Mane said.

According to Mane, Singh is originally from Rajasthan and moved to Pune in 2008. “He is a real estate agent and also helps people secure admissions in various schools and colleges in the city on commission. His wife and seven-month-old daughter live in Delhi. His wife is preparing for civil services,” Mane said.

Around 11pm on Saturday, Singh got a call from his friend, who lives in Punawale, and left home to meet him. “However, a few minutes later, the friend called Singh and cancelled the plan. After this phone call, Singh decided to stop along the way. He pulled up outside a restaurant on the service lane of the Katraj-Dehu Road bypass,” Mane said.

“He got out of the car and went to a shop. He returned to the car and sat on the driver’s seat, when three men barged into the vehicle. Two sat on the rear seat, while the third sat on the passenger seat. The man, who sat next to Singh, whipped out a small firearm and pointed it at Singh’s stomach,” Mane said.

“We discovered later that the three suspects had reached the spot on a motorcycle,” Mane said.

“The three suspects sat silently for several minutes. They did not demand any valuables or money from Singh,” Mane said.

A few minutes later, one of them asked Singh a chilling question. “He said to Singh, ‘Do you want to die?’,” Mane said.

“At this point, Singh lost his nerve and decided to make an escape attempt. He wrenched open the car’s door and made a break for it. The man holding the gun fired on Singh, who immediately fell to the ground. The suspects jumped out of the car and fled the spot,” Mane said.

The stretch is peppered with many restaurants, and many people present heard the gunshot. “Local restaurateurs rushed Singh to a hospital,” Mane said.

“He is out of danger,” Mane added.

Mane said the police have yet to ascertain the motive behind the assault. “Singh told police that he does not bear any animosity against anyone,” Mane said.