A family argument over food turned fatal in Pune after a 30-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his father after his demand for mutton during the holy month of Shravan.
The incident took place in the Warje-Malwadi area of Pune during the night of August 24 and 25. The deceased is identified as Mahesh Bhagwat Gaikwad.
According to police, Mahesh returned home after drinking alcohol and asked his family to make mutton curry. His parents were observing Shravan and had stopped eating non-vegetarian food during the month. What started as an argument turned violent, and Mahesh’s death took place.
Police have arrested Mahesh's father Bhagwat Suryabhan Gaikwad, 64, and his mother Parvati Bhagwat Gaikwad, 60, in connection with the case. The mother has been accused of helping her husband conceal or destroy evidence after the death.
Argument Started Over Mutton
According to the police investigation, the incident started on the night of August 24.
Mahesh returned home in an intoxicated condition and told his family he wanted to eat mutton. He said his family had to make mutton curry for him.
However, his parents were observing Shravan and had decided not to prepare or eat non-vegetarian food during the month.
The argument over the meal soon turned into a heated argument between Mahesh and his father.
The police say that the argument got heated and Bhagwat attacked his son. Mahesh was beaten on his head and face and suffered serious injuries.
The assault left him critically injured, and he died later, police said.
Police say the assault turned fatal.
The police have treated the incident as a murder case.
Mahesh was seriously injured during the assault, sources said. His father continued to beat him during the argument, causing fatal injuries.
The incident happened between around 10:30 pm on 24 August and 4 a.m. on 25 August.
Mahesh's brother later approached the police, after which a case was registered at the Warje-Malwadi police station.
The investigators are now trying to determine the exact sequence of events in the house and the circumstances which led to Mahesh’s death.
Mother Also Arrested
Police have also arrested Mahesh's mother in the case.
Investigators allege that she helped her husband recover from that incident and attempted to hide or destroy evidence of the death.
The couple attempted to cover up the incident instead of immediately informing the police, the report said.
Police were later suspicious and began investigating the cause of Mahesh’s death.
The parents are now in police custody.
Family had been avoiding non-vegetarian food
The dispute occurred because the family was following a common Shravan practice of avoiding non-vegetarian food.
Shravan is considered a holy month for many Hindus, so many families choose not to eat meat, fish, or eggs during this period.
In this case, police said Mahesh's parents were following that practice when he returned home and demanded mutton.
But the food dispute did not explain the violent escalation. The police investigation is focused on how the argument turned into an assault and ultimately resulted in the man’s death.
Alcohol was also involved
Police said Mahesh had been drinking before he returned home that night.
He regularly consumed alcohol and had arguments with his father frequently, according to reports.
His alleged intoxication on the evening of the incident may have made the argument more heated, although the investigation will establish the exact reasons.
The dispute began with Mahesh asking for mutton but later became a physical confrontation between father and son.
A shocking incident has come to light from Pune’s Warje-Malwadi area, where a 30-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his father following a dispute over his demand for non-vegetarian food during the Shravan month.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) August 28, 2026
The deceased, identified as Mahesh Bhagwat Gaikwad,… pic.twitter.com/ubb9FDvyJD
Police Investigation Underway
The Warje-Malwadi police are investigating the case and questioning the accused parents to understand exactly what happened.
Investigators are also looking into the alleged effort to conceal evidence after the assault.
The police are to examine medical evidence and other material collected during the investigation to establish the cause of death and the role played by each accused.
At the present time, the allegations against the parents are still under investigation by the police and the court must determine their legal liability.
A Family Dispute With A Tragic End
It was a family member who died in a family argument over a meal.
What started as a dispute over whether mutton should be prepared in Shravan turned into a violent clash.
The case also tells us how alcohol, family strife, and an argument can make for a bad situation.
But the reason for the argument does not change the seriousness of the alleged assault. The argument over food ultimately resulted in the death of a 30-year-old man.
What happens next?
The two accused parents are now under investigation by police.
They will study the evidence to find out exactly how Mahesh died and what happened inside the house during the night of August 24-25.
At the same time, the police will also investigate the incident to see if they tried to destroy or hide evidence of the crime.
It is under investigation.
The incident in Pune is a stark reminder of how quickly a domestic argument can escalate when it turns violent. What started as a dispute over eating mutton during Shravan ended with Mahesh Gaikwad’s death and both his parents arrested.
