Mother of Former Cricketer Salil Ankola Found Dead in Pune

In a tragic incident in Pune, the mother of former Indian cricketer Salil Ankola was found dead at her residence on Friday afternoon. The deceased, identified as Mala Ashok Ankola, aged 77, was discovered with injuries to her throat at her flat on Prabhat Road in the Deccan Gymkhana area, according to police officials.

The police, upon investigation, revealed that the injuries were prima facie “self-inflicted.” However, they are considering various angles in their probe to determine whether the death was a result of suicide or foul play. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I), Sandip Singh Gill, stated, “When the door was opened, the woman was found dead with her throat slit. Prima facie, it looks like the injuries are self-inflicted. However, we are probing the case from all angles.”

Mala Ankola reportedly lived with her daughter, who owns the apartment. On the day of the incident, the domestic help reported that Mala did not respond when she arrived around 11 AM. After receiving no answer, the maid alerted Mala’s daughter, who then sent someone with the apartment keys to check on her.

The security guard who accompanied the help confirmed that injuries were found on Mala’s neck. Despite being rushed to a nearby private hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival. Joint Commissioner of Police, Ranjan Kumar Sharma, affirmed that the investigation is ongoing, mentioning that the CCTV camera at the site was not operational, which could have provided crucial insights.

Salil Ankola, known for his brief yet impactful cricket career, first emerged on the scene playing for Bombay in the late 1980s. His transition from cricket to acting marked a significant career shift. Ankola also served as the chief selector for Mumbai and was part of a national selection committee before recent developments in his career trajectory.