A property dispute allegedly turned fatal in Ghaziabad's Modinagar on Wednesday night when a 32-year-old man is accused of shooting his father dead after a heated confrontation at their home.
Investigators said the accused fired four rounds from a pistol before escaping with the weapon. To trace and arrest him, police have constituted four separate teams.
According to police, the accused was under the influence of alcohol when the incident took place, and the shooting followed an argument over family property.
The deceased, Hariom Chaudhary, 52, lived in Budana village under the Modinagar police station limits and was regarded as one of the area's wealthy farmers.
Police said Chaudhary owned 75 bighas of land in Modinagar along with a market situated on the Delhi-Meerut Road. His assets are estimated to be worth around Rs 150 crore.
He is survived by his wife, Anita, and his younger son, Neeshu.
ACP Modinagar Bhaskar Verma said the couple's elder son, Nikhil, had a drinking habit for which his father frequently reprimanded him.
Investigators said Hariom Chaudhary had already transferred 25 bighas of land and several shops in the market to Nikhil. Despite that, the elder son allegedly continued demanding that the remaining land also be transferred in his name.
Police said the father refused the demand, believing his son would squander the property on alcohol and other indulgences.
According to the investigation, Hariom Chaudhary had dinner with his wife and younger son on Wednesday evening before Nikhil arrived home late in an intoxicated condition.
An argument reportedly erupted after the father confronted him over his drinking. During the confrontation, police alleged that Nikhil pulled out a pistol and opened fire on his father.
One of the bullets struck Hariom Chaudhary in the face, causing him to collapse. Police alleged that the accused then fired additional rounds, hitting him in the face, chest and abdomen.
Investigators said the victim's body bore between four and six bullet injuries.
During the probe, police also found that Nikhil had frequently quarrelled with his parents over his drinking habit. Investigators said he had allegedly opened fire on his younger brother, Neeshu, after an argument in 2018 as well. Police are now examining that earlier case alongside the present investigation.
