29-05-2025
Gujarat woman fakes own death, kills man in plot inspired by 'Drishyam'
A 22-year-old married woman from Gujarat's Patan district has been arrested alongside her 21-year-old lover for allegedly murdering a man, dressing his corpse in her clothing, and setting it ablaze in a chilling plot inspired by the Bollywood thriller Drishyam, police said on Wednesday.
Authorities recovered the half-burnt body near a pond in Jakhotra village late Tuesday. Initially mistaken for the woman due to the traditional skirt and anklets on the body, the victim was later confirmed to be Harjibhai Solanki, a 56-year-old nomadic resident of a neighbouring village.
The accused, Geeta Ahir, and her lover Bharat Ahir, were apprehended hours later at Palanpur railway station, where they were allegedly preparing to board a train to Rajasthan.
According to Patan's Superintendent of Police V. K. Nayi, Geeta devised the plan after watching Drishyam and its sequel, convincing her lover to help her stage her own death so they could elope.
On the night of May 28, as her family slept, Geeta left home. Around the same time, Bharat allegedly picked up Solanki, strangled him at a remote location, and transported the body to the pond. There, the pair dressed the corpse in Geeta's clothes and doused it in petrol before setting it on fire.
Family members discovered the charred remains and believed it to be Geeta. Their shock turned to horror when they realised the body belonged to a man.
The plot unravelled swiftly. Acting on intelligence, police located the couple at the station and took them into custody. During interrogation, both confessed to the crime.
Police have charged the duo with murder and criminal conspiracy. The case remains under investigation.
