A 19-month-old male cheetah cub died at Kuno National Park on Tuesday after sustaining bullet injuries in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district.
Veterinary examination confirmed that pellets were extracted from the cub's body, refuting initial reports suggesting injuries were caused by sticks.
The State Tiger Strike Force is investigating the death, with officials suggesting the cub may have been shot by a villager after killing two calves.