In a shocking incident echoing the plot of the Bollywood thriller "Drishyam," a woman in Gujarat, aided by her lover, allegedly murdered a man and attempted to pass off his body as her own in an elaborate scheme to fake her death. The Patan district police arrested 22-year-old Gita Ahir and her 21-year-old lover, Bharat Ahir, on Wednesday at Palanpur railway station in connection with the crime.
The bizarre case unfolded after the half-burnt body of a man was discovered near a pond on the outskirts of Jakhotra village in Santalpur taluka on Tuesday night. The body was found clad in a skirt and anklets, leading Gita's relatives to initially believe it was her. However, they soon realized the deceased was a man and alerted the police. The deceased was later identified as 56-year-old Harjibhai Solanki, a nomadic resident of Vauva village in Santalpur taluka.
Investigations revealed that Gita, who was married, was having an affair with Bharat, her neighbor. Inspired by the movie "Drishyam," the couple hatched a plan to fake Gita's death so they could elope and start a new life together. According to police, Gita convinced Bharat to find a body, dress it in her clothes, and set it on fire to make it appear as though she had died by suicide.
Bharat allegedly lured Solanki, who was elderly and frail, to a secluded location on May 26th, offering him a ride on his motorcycle. There, he strangled Solanki to death and transported the body to a location near the pond in Jakhotra. Gita then met Bharat at the site with petrol. The couple dressed Solanki in Gita's clothes and jewelry, doused the body in petrol, and set it ablaze before fleeing towards Palanpur. They intended to board a train to Rajasthan.
The plan began to unravel when Gita's husband, upon discovering her missing, initiated a search. The discovery of the half-burnt body dressed in his wife's clothes triggered panic and a police investigation. Forensic clues and inconsistencies in the suspects' stories quickly exposed the deception. Police tracked the couple using mobile phone triangulation and CCTV footage, ultimately apprehending them at Palanpur railway station before they could escape to Rajasthan.
During interrogation, Gita confessed to being inspired by the "Drishyam" films and devising the plan to fake her death. She admitted that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Bharat, who willingly participated in the scheme. Petrol pump staff confirmed that Gita had purchased petrol in a can, which police believe was used in the crime. Post-mortem findings revealed that Solanki was alive when he was set on fire, indicating he died from the burn injuries.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, particularly because Solanki belonged to the Dalit community. Congress MLA from Vadgam, Jignesh Mevani, highlighted the matter on social media. Police have stated that the motive behind the crime was to mislead Gita's family into believing she had died by suicide, allowing the couple to sever ties and start anew without accountability. Both Gita and Bharat remain in custody as the investigation continues, and they are expected to face the court on Thursday.
