A shocking family tragedy has emerged from Pune in Maharashtra, India, where a 33-year-old man is accused of killing his nine-year-old daughter after becoming enraged over her alleged alteration of school exam rankings.
According to reports from Indian media outlets including The Indian Express and NDTV, the incident took place in Deulgaon Raje village. The man, identified as Shantaram Chavan, lived with his partner and children.
The case reportedly began when the victim, a primary school pupil, allegedly changed her report card marks to rank herself first in class, overtaking her stepbrother, who had previously held the top position. The act is said to have led to intense anger within the household.
Investigators allege that Chavan reacted violently after discovering the alteration. On Monday evening, he allegedly used a power saw to fatally attack the child, resulting in her immediate death.
Following the killing, the suspect is believed to have attempted to destroy evidence by wrapping the body in traditional clothing before setting fire to the house in an effort to stage the incident as an accidental death caused by a blaze.
He then reportedly acted as though the tragedy was an accident, crying out to neighbours and claiming the fire was responsible for the child’s death.
However, police who arrived at the scene found inconsistencies in the circumstances surrounding the fire. A deeper investigation later led to the arrest of the man and his partner, who is accused of assisting in concealing the crime.
Authorities recovered the partially burnt remains of the victim from the charred structure. Due to extensive damage, forensic examinations are underway to confirm identity and establish further details.
Police are continuing investigations into the exact motive behind the killing, including clarifying the relationship between the suspect and the victim and whether other factors may have contributed to the incident.
