“Dada, I am your fan. I want to give you a bouquet,” one of the assailants allegedly told shipping businessman Rana Suryavanshi before a “phat” sound was heard, which the FIR describes as a gunshot. But did the firearm actually go off? Pune Rural police are probing key inconsistencies in the account of the October 18 attack; the absence of an empty cartridge casing at the crime scene raises questions about the alleged firing. Investigators are awaiting the ballistic forensic report on the recovered firearm to establish whether a shot was fired at all.

The alleged attack took place around 7.30pm on October 18, when Suryavanshi, proprietor of Rana Shipping Company, was near Baramati Airport along the Palkhi highway to inspect locations of agricultural land and commercial plots. Two men allegedly arrived on a scooter, with one approaching Suryavanshi with a bouquet before attacking him. Suryavanshi did not sustain a bullet injury but suffered injuries from a sharp weapon.…