Latur: Former Union minister Shivraj Patil's cousin shoots self dead with licenced firearm

An 81-year-old relative of former Union minister Shivraj Patil Chakurkar allegedly died by suicide at the latter’s residence in Latur, a city in Maharashtra.

The deceased is identified as Hanmantrao Patil, 81, also known as Chandrasekhar, who is a cousin of Shivraj Patil. The incident happened on Sunday morning at Patil’s residence, at around 8:30 am.

Victim was distressed due to some ailment

According to the police, Chandrasekhar shot himself dead with his own licensed revolver, when the other relatives were not nearby and thus unaware of the incident when it happened. The police in a statement said that he was ‘distressed’ with a certain ailment that he was suffering from for several years.

Police sources reveal that Chandrasekhar had texted a ‘good-bye’ message to several of his close aides, before committing the unfortunate act. He had even kept a WhatsApp status which said ‘Good-bye’.

Caretakers heard the pistol shot, informed family

It is also known that the sound of the pistol was first heard by the caretakers of the house, who then alerted the family members. The place where Chandrasekhar shot himself was in a secluded room, which was away from the rooms of his children – two daughters, and two sons. One of his sons lived next to his residence.

Shivraj Patil, an ex-Union Home Minister and also an ex-Lok Sabha Speaker, lived very close to the deceased. Both would visit each other frequently.

After the police were alerted about the incidents, Additional Superintendent of Police Dinesh Devre, Deputy SP Jitendra Jagdale and other senior police officials reached the spot to probe the matter.

The body of the deceased has been taken to the hospital for autopsy. 

Published on: Sunday, March 05, 2023, 02:22 PM IST