An Inspector with the State Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) department and his mentally challenged son were found dead in his car in Navi Mumbai on Friday morning. Based on circumstantial evidence, police believe that he killed his son before killing himself.
The deceased have been identified as Maheshkumar Pawar, 41, and his son Kaushal, 14. Officers with CBD Belapur police station said Pawar was with the Weights and Measures department and had been transferred from Sangli to Navi Mumbai on June 1 this year. He was staying with Kaushal and his wife, Manasi, in a rented apartment in Sector 5, Belapur.
An officer said, “Pawar left his residence on Thursday evening with Kaushal. He told his wife that they were going for a drive. When he did not return till late at night, she tried reaching him but his phone was switched off. After several failed attempts, she registered a Missing Persons Report early on Friday.”
Later on Friday, an acquaintance told her that Pawar’s car was parked a kilometre from their residence. She rushed to the spot to find her husband and son lying dead in the car — Kaushal in the front passenger seat and Pawar in the rear. Both were rushed to MGM Hospital in Vashi where they were declared brought dead.
“We found a cylinder of carbon monoxide with a tube and a mask attached to it in the car. Prima facie we believe Pawar made Kaushal inhale the gas before doing so himself. We are awaiting post mortem reports to confirm the cause of death. No suicide note was found in the car or on Pawar’s person, but we have learned that he was depressed over his son’s condition,” said DCP Prashant Khaire, Navi Mumbai Police.
