Mumbai Oct 11 : The long-lost pistol, allegedly used by Asha Bhosle's daughter Varsha for ending her life, has been sent for ballistic examination and a notice was sent to her brother Anand asking him to remain present for recording his statement, police said today.
The legendary singer had lost the weapon nearly three decades ago and now police want to find out how a gun lost such a long time ago was still in a firing condition.
”We also want to know if anybody had found the missing weapon a few years ago. If so, then why that person did not inform the police?” a police officer, probing the case, said.
”To get answers, we have sent the weapon for ballistic examination. Through the ballistic report, it could also revealed if the weapon was cleaned or oiled regularly,” the officer said.
56-year-old Varsha had shot herself dead with a Belgian-make 0.6 calibre pistol at her mother's flat at Prabhu Kunj on posh Peddar Road where her body was found lying on a sofa on Monday.
Her brother Anand Bhosle, who has reached Mumbai, has not presented himself before the cops since his return from abroad, police said.
”We have sent a notice at Anand's Lower Parel house asking him to remain present before us so that we can record his statement,” the officer added.
So far, the statements of Varsha's aunt Usha Mangeshkar, relative Rachna Shah, driver Vijay Nakashe, and housemaid Deepali Mane have been recorded.
According to police, Varsha was under treatment of doctors based in Pune for depression.
The bullet that had pierced through her head was recovered from the scene, sources said, adding the sound of the small firearm might not have been heard by neighbours due to its low decibel. Four bullets were still intact in the magazine of the pistol, police said.
The ballistic experts examine bullets, bullet fragments, cartridge clip, firearm, and related evidence found at the scene of the incident and submit a report to the investigators enabling them arrive at a conclusion in a case.
Varsha, a singer and columnist, was alone in the Peddar Road flat when the incident took place.
Although she was undergoing treatment for depression for the last two years, it is not yet clear what prompted her to take the extreme step, police said.
Inquiries so far have indicated that her depression had aggravated after the death of noted fashion photographer friend Gautam Rajadhyaksha with whom she wanted to start an orphanage. She had reportedly attempted to end her life twice in the past.
