Pravin Mahajan dies four years after brother’s killing (Second Lead)

MUMBAI - Pravin Mahajan, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007 for killing his brother, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Mahajan, died in a Thane hospital Wednesday evening after remaining three months in coma, family sources said. He was 50.

Pravin Mahajan had been admitted to the hospital following brain haemorrhage and had been in coma since then. He had been put on life support system but failed to recover at the Jupiter Hospital where he was admitted, a close aide of the family said.

Hospital authorities, however, did not issue any official word on the developments till Wednesday.

In a dramatic murder that shocked the country, Pravin Mahajan had killed his elder brother Pramod Mahajan on April 22, 2006 in his Mumbai home. The high-profile BJP leader succumbed to his wounds 11 days later on May 3.

Shortly after committing the crime, Pravin had walked down to the Worli police station and surrendered.

Pravin Mahajan was sentenced to life by a sessions court for fratricide on Dec 18, 2007. He was in the Nashik Central Jail and was on parole on medical grounds when he suffered the stroke.

He was released for 14 days Nov 27, 2009 and was due to return to jail Dec 12.But at around 10.30 p.m. Dec 11, he was rushed to hospital following fatigue, giddiness and severe headache, later diagnosed as a massive brain haemorrhage.

He was kept under the care of a team of specialists, including a physician, neurologist, neurosurgeon and a cardiologist.

After a long battle lasting nearly 80 days, Pravin Mahajan died around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Pravin Mahajan’s family, including wife Sarangi, twin son and daughter and other relatives had gathered at the hospital Wednesday.