Maharashtra cadre IAS officer Vijaykumar Bhagwat Pawar, 57, allegedly hung himself after shooting at and injuring his wife Sonali in Marvade in Mangalwedha town in Solapur - over 380 kilometers from Mumbai.

Pawar was posted in the state's Skill Development department and had previously served as collector of Nandurbar district.

"Neighbours heard shouting and gunshots from the Pawar household following which they alerted police. The couple was rushed to the hospital where doctors declared Pawar dead on arrival. Sonali Pawar has sustained bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment," according to officers

"We have recovered two empty rounds and one live airgun cartridge. A probe has been instituted to find out what caused the incident," they said