Court Rejects Bail for Man Accused of Drowning Wife in Sabarmati River

Additional Sessions Judge J.I. Patel rejected the bail plea of Minesh alias Montu Dineshbhai Solanki, accused of murdering his wife by pushing her into the Sabarmati River near the Dudheshwar bridge in Ahmedabad.

The court took strict note of the facts presented in the FIR and the investigating officer's affidavit, emphasizing the gravity of the offense. Observing that the accused went on the run following the crime and possesses a violent temperament, the judge noted that releasing him on bail poses a severe risk of witness tampering and intimidation.

Premeditated Attack on Rath Yatra Night

According to case details, Solanki had married the victim in a love marriage that was not accepted by the victim's family. Frequent marital disputes broke out between the couple, leading Solanki to plan a permanent way out.

On 25 June 2017, the night of Rath Yatra, Solanki took his wife to various spots across the city before bringing her to the eastern bank of the Sabarmati Riverfront near Dudheshwar bridge. In the presence of an eyewitness, he lifted his wife and dropped her into the river with the intent to end her life.

Threat to Eyewitness and Legal Opposition

Solanki also threatened the eyewitness, Shubham Parmar, with dire consequences if he disclosed the incident. Police subsequently arrested Solanki and sent him to judicial custody.

During the bail hearing, Chief Public Prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt strongly opposed the plea. Brahmbhatt argued that given the severity of the charge under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, freeing the accused would directly compromise key witnesses who had already faced threats. Convinced by the prosecution's arguments, the court dismissed the bail petition.