Khokhra Murder: Man Arrested for Killing Widowed Aunt Over Money, Trying to....

A dispute over money allegedly ended in murder at an Ahmedabad flat, where a man is accused of killing his widowed aunt and attempting to conceal her body inside a bag. The case surfaced on Monday after residents of Jeevanraksha Flats in Khokhra reported a foul smell from a locked apartment. Police broke open the flat and found Lakshmiben Dabhi’s body inside a bag.

The accused, identified as Praharsh Ashwin Makwana, was arrested in Rakhial within hours. Khokhra police and the Zone-5 Local Crime Branch (LCB) traced him through CCTV footage, local inquiries and questioning of relatives.

Body Discovered After Neighbours Raise Alarm

Lakshmiben lived by herself on the second floor of Jeevanraksha Flats, near Christian Society. When an unusual stench began coming from her locked home, neighbours contacted the police control room.

Inspector B.P. Savalia of Khokhra police station and PSI Kartiksinh Jadeja of the Zone-5 LCB team reached the building and forced open the lock. Inside, they found the elderly woman’s body concealed in a bag.

An FSL team examined the flat and found sharp-force injuries on her neck. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination, and a murder case was registered.

Police Follow Family Links to Rakhial

Investigators examined CCTV footage from the surrounding area and spoke to residents to establish who might have visited the flat. Their inquiries led them to Lakshmiben’s relatives, including her brother, Ashwin Makwana, who lived in Rakhial.

Police visited the family’s residence and questioned those present. Praharsh’s movements raised suspicion, and he was taken in for questioning. Police said he allegedly admitted to killing his aunt during interrogation.

Cash Found in Bag Sparks Argument

According to the account given to investigators, Praharsh worked in the loan department of a private company and had arrived at his aunt’s home on Thursday night with a bag containing cash.

On Friday morning, Lakshmiben reportedly opened the bag and questioned him about the large amount of money inside. The exchange escalated into an argument.

Police said Lakshmiben was holding a pair of scissors when a scuffle broke out. During the confrontation, the scissors allegedly pierced her neck. She suffered heavy bleeding and died within minutes.

Nephew Allegedly Fled After Attempting to Hide Body

After Lakshmiben’s death, Praharsh allegedly tried to put her body inside the bag but could not fit it entirely. He then locked the flat from the outside and left for Rakhial, according to the police account.

The locked apartment remained undiscovered until neighbours complained about the smell. Their call brought police to the scene, setting off the investigation that led to Praharsh’s arrest.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing.