MUMBAI: Manor police on Friday registered a case of murder against unknown persons in connection with the shooting of a retired Vasai tehsildar at his Palghar bungalow on Wednesday.Police initially registered an accidental death report (suicide case) after Pandharinath Sankhe (72) was found dead at 6.30am on Wednesday. There were four gunshot wounds in his right temple.Palghar district superintendent of police Gaurav Singh told TOI the suicide theory was ruled out. “It is not possible for a person to fire four bullets at oneself, we are certain it is a case of murder,” said Singh.While police suspect that Sankhe’s .32 bore Indian-made licensed revolver was used in the crime, they are awaiting the ballistic report from the forensic laboratory in Kalina to ascertain if the bullets lodged in Sankhe’s head were fired from the weapon seized from the crime spot.The revolver found near Sankhe’s body had two bullets intact. Singh said if the shots were fired by Sankhe, using his revolver, it was not possible for the victim to have shot a bullet and be alive to pump three more.The X-ray report showed four bullets had pierced through Sankhe’s right temple and there was only one entry point. Police sources said while the bullets had been fired from close range, the bullets had not exited the head. The head too had not shattered with the impact.As was his routine, Sankhe woke up at 4am and went for his morning walk. He returned an hour later and told his security guard to go to his cabin and freshen up. Sankhe’s wife was asleep in the bungalow at Maswan village.Police sources Sankhe used to walk around his bungalow in the morning and often had his revolver in his hand. Sources said the killer may have taken advantage of the darkness, snatched the revolver and shot at him from close range. The shots were heard by Sankhe’s wife and guard, who rushed him to the nearby Sahyadri hospital, where he was declared dead before arrival.Though the bungalow is under CCTV surveillance, there was no recording since November last year. Police said they are examining images from the locality.Police, looking at a property angle, are examining his cell phone records. Forensic experts on Friday visited the crime spot.

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