The Pimpri Chinchwad police have reported that Ramesh Reddy, a 35-year-old former gambling den operator, was fatally shot nine times on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred in the Dehu Road area, and authorities have attributed the murder to an ongoing rivalry between the victim and the assailants.
Murder Case Registered
The Dehu Road police officially registered a murder case on Wednesday against three identified individuals along with five to six accomplices. All suspects are currently at large. According to police records, Reddy had shut down his gambling operations several years ago and subsequently transitioned into political activism, joining a national party.
In response to the killing, the Pimpri Chinchwad police deployed a heavy bandobust (security arrangement) in Dehu Road to prevent any potential unrest.
Details of the Attack
Police investigations revealed that the assailants fired a total of 18 bullets, nine of which struck Reddy, causing fatal injuries. "Along with empty cartridges, police also found about four live cartridges at the crime scene," a Dehu Road police official stated.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shivaji Pawar of the Pimpri Chinchwad police provided further insights: "We have formed teams to nab the assailants. Three of them have been identified. The area where the murder took place was not under CCTV surveillance. We were checking footage from nearby establishments to ascertain the direction in which the assailants fled after gunning down Reddy."
Background of the Rivalry
Pawar elaborated on the motive behind the murder. "The murder was a fallout of an old rivalry. On February 13, 2025, Reddy's brother Vikram was shot by the same assailants. The family members of these assailants had been arrested and were still in prison in that murder case," he said. According to police, the assailants were unhappy with Reddy as he had been actively opposing bail for the arrested family members of the accused.
Pawar added, "The assailants arrived at the spot in two four-wheelers and two to three two-wheelers. Reddy was standing near the eatery when they opened fire at him from a close range. Nine bullets hit Reddy, mainly in the chest and head."
