Ramesh Reddy, a former operator of the illegal gambling activity known as matka, was fatally shot by unidentified assailants in Dehu Road, near Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra, on Tuesday evening. The shooting occurred around 8:30 PM, with reports indicating that the attackers fired seven to eight rounds at close range, striking Reddy in the head. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The incident caused panic in the local market, prompting shopkeepers to close their businesses. Following the shooting, Reddy's relatives and supporters protested outside the hospital and on the old Pune-Mumbai highway, disrupting traffic. Reddy had reportedly distanced himself from matka activities in recent years and had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Investigators are currently examining CCTV footage to identify the shooters, and the motive for the murder remains unclear. Notably, Reddy's brother, Vikram Guruswami Reddy, was also murdered on February 13, 2025, marking a tragic pattern in the family.