Unidentified persons opened fire on a businessman, Vijaya Raghavan, 58, while he was sleeping in his house near Journalists colony in Banjara Hills in the wee hours of Friday.
Mr. Raghavan suffered two bullet wounds and was shifted to near-by Apollo hospital. He was operated on. Doctors said his condition was critical. The Banjara Hills Inspector, Sudarshan, told The Hindu that the attackers gained entry inside somehow after 2 a.m. and opened three rounds of fire on Mr. Raghavan who was asleep in his bedroom.
His wife and daughter were sleeping in another bedroom in their rented first-floor portion of the house. Mr. Raghavan suffered a bullet injury near his collarbone and another on rear side of right shoulder. An empty cartridge was recovered from the spot. Police believe a short firearm was used.
Forensic experts said the bullet could be of .75 mm calibre. Motive behind the attack was not yet known but investigators suspect property disputes with the kin or family members led to the attack. The attackers did not take away any valuables from the house ruling out the possibility of the businessman being attacked for some gain.
Mr. Sudarshan said Mr. Raghavan’s house was burgled a year ago. That time too it was suspected the burglary was a consequence of disputes he had with his close relatives. The case remained undetected. Mr. Raghavan’s father, Purushothaman, was a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police.
