Varsha serviced pistol regularly,knew how to load it: Police

“We are checking to find out if Asha Bhosle owned the pistol Varsha used to shoot herself with,” said Nisar Tamboli,Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2).

The police officers said that the .6mm calibre pistol is an automatic weapon that needs to be serviced regularly. Moreover,the magazine of the pistol could be loaded and fired only with practice.

“In case the pistol is not serviced,it gives problems while firing. We are checking Asha Bhosle’s pistol registration documents to see if they match with the pistol found on the spot. This particular pistol cannot be purchased without due registration,” said the officer.

Officers said they were waiting for Asha Bhosle to recover from the shock of her daughter’s death to record her statement at length. “We have partly recorded her statement. We are also waiting for Varsha’s brother Anand to return to India,” said the officer.

Apart from recording the statements of other family members,the police officers have recorded the statement of Asha Bhosle’s driver Vijay Nakashe,who had last spoken to Varsha a few hours before she shot herself.

“Nakashe told us that when he visited the night before her body was found,she (Varsha) did not display any signs of stress or depression,” said an officer.

The police said a domestic help who used to stay with Varsha all day had gone home a few minutes before the driver visited the house.

The police are also checking the documents of Anand,Varsha Bhosle’s ex-husband Hemant Kenkre,and deceased fashion photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha.

Around 10.30 am on Monday,Nakashe found Varsha dead in her apartment in Prabhukunj building on Peddar Road. She was found seated on a long sofa in her night dress,holding the pistol.