Pune: Father Kills 9-Year-Old Daughter over Minor Dispute, Sets House With Girl Inside Ablaze to Destroy Evidence in Daund
Daund, 6th May 2026: A nine-year-old girl was allegedly murdered by her father in Daund taluka after a minor dispute over school rankings. The accused later set their house on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime.
The incident took place on Sunday evening at Deulgaon Raje village, around 100km from Pune. The accused, identified as Shantaram Chavan (33), a daily wage worker, has been arrested along with a woman who allegedly assisted him. Police have booked them under sections related to murder and destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to police, the incident stemmed from a sibling dispute. The girl, who had secured second rank in Class III, was teased by her elder brother, who had stood first in Class IV.
“Following the argument, the girl allegedly altered the marksheet, changing her rank to first and her brother’s to second. When their father found out, he became enraged,” the officer said.
Police said the accused used a chainsaw-like cutter to kill the child and later wrapped the body in a sari before setting the house on fire. He initially tried to pass it off as an accidental blaze, claiming his daughter was trapped inside.
However, the police received specific information suggesting foul play. “Upon investigation, we recovered the partially burnt body from the house,” a senior police official said.
Police said the woman arrested in the case allegedly helped the accused destroy evidence. Further investigation is underway.
