Absconding mastermind of Gondal petrol pump firing case held in Kerala

In a breakthrough in last month’s high-profile Gondal petrol pump firing case, the Gujarat State Monitoring Cell has arrested fugitive gangster Hardiksinh Hardevsinh Jadeja from Kochi in Kerala.

Jadeja, accused of masterminding the July 23 incident in which two masked men opened fire at Ribda Petroleum in Gondal taluka of Rajkot district, had been on the run for nearly three weeks. The attack, allegedly intended to intimidate a local rival, was carried out by contract shooters hired by Jadeja.

The firing took place shortly after midnight when two men arrived on a motorcycle, and one opened fire at the petrol pump. A complaint was lodged by employee Javed Khokhar at the Gondal taluka police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and provisions of the Arms Act.

Within days, police arrested four alleged shooters from Mumbai and Agra — Irfan Qureshi (32), Abhishek Kumar Agrawal (28), Pranshu Kumar Agrawal (29) and Vipin Kumar Jat (26). As per the investigators, Vipin fired the shots, while Qureshi drove the motorcycle. Abhishek and Pranshu were involved in planning. Police said Jadeja had offered Vipin ₹5 lakh, exploiting his need for his mother’s cancer treatment, and promised ₹1 lakh each to Abhishek and Pranshu. Jadeja allegedly met Qureshi during an earlier stint in Sabarmati Jail, from where their association began.

The accused also allegedly targeted the pump due to its proximity to the home of Rajdipsinh Jadeja, grandson of former MLA Mahipatsinh Jadeja and nephew of prominent Kshatriya leader Anirudhsinh Jadeja, against whom Hardik had personal enmity. In an Instagram post after the shooting, Jadeja not only took responsibility but also issued threats to Rajdipsinh and to D V Rana alias Pintoo Khatadi.

According to police, Jadeja has 11 prior cases across Rajkot, Junagadh and Surat, including murder, attempt to murder, robbery, cheating, and violations of the Prohibition Act.

Following a court-issued arrest warrant in connection with the Gondal case and another case registered in Surat’s Rander police station for robbery, criminal intimidation and kidnapping with intent to murder, the State Monitoring Cell launched a manhunt.

Acting on intelligence from human and technical sources, two SMC teams tracked Jadeja to Kochupalli Road in Kochi. He was arrested in front of the Swami Hotel and brought to Gujarat. Police seized a mobile phone, a Jio router, a SIM card, an Aadhaar card and ₹1,680 in cash from him.

Police said Jadeja will be interrogated to determine the full extent of his involvement and motives in the shooting and other crimes.