Anita used to often reprimand her 21-year-old son Nikhil due to his "bad habits", police said today.
Last evening, one of such heated exchanges between the two spilled over and Nikhil, in a fit of rage, fired at his mother using a pistol, at their house in Unn town, they said.
Anita was rushed to a nearby hospital where her condition was stated to be critical.
"A case has been registered against Nikhil under the charge of attempt to murder and he has been arrested. The pistol used in the crime has also been recovered from his possession," circle officer Sunil Tyagi said.