Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrests two men from Ujjain for Bodakdev shooting; gun, cartridges recovered

The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested two absconding accused from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, in connection with a firing incident reported in the Bodakdev police station area two months ago. The arrests were made following a coordinated human-intelligence and technical operation.

According to officials, the incident occurred on September 27, 2025, when Maulikbhai Pratapbhai Thakkar, a resident of Eminence-96 near Shilaj Circle, allegedly opened fire on his brother-in-law during a domestic dispute. Police said Maulikbhai had quarrelled with his wife Sheetalben, prompting her to call her brother Sudhir alias Gopal Chandubhai Thakkar to take her away.

Around 8.30 pm, Sudhir, accompanied by his father and brother-in-law, arrived in a Skoda car to pick up Sheetal. As they reached the residential complex, Maulikbhai and his brother Jitendrabhai allegedly confronted them. Maulikbhai is accused of firing one round at the car and two rounds at Sudhir, one of which struck him in the right side of the abdomen, leaving him seriously injured.

Sudhir subsequently filed a complaint at Bodakdev police station under sections of BNS and sections of the Arms Act. The investigation was transferred to local police, while both accused fled immediately after the incident.

Given the seriousness of the offence, senior officers directed the Crime Branch to trace the suspects. Multiple teams were formed to conduct parallel human-source and technical surveillance efforts.

During the operation, the Crime Branch received inputs that the two accused were residing near Ujjain’s Mahakal Temple and Harsiddhi Temple. A team was dispatched to Madhya Pradesh, where officers circulated photographs of the accused at both temple premises. Investigators were informed that the duo had been visiting the temples for daily darshan.

The Crime Branch team eventually located both men near the Harsiddhi Temple and apprehended them. They were brought to Ahmedabad for further legal action.

Officials said the revolver used in the offence, along with ten live cartridges and two empty cartridge shells, was recovered from a bag belonging to Maulikbhai at the time of arrest.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly told police that they had initially taken refuge at Virda Jasraj Bhuvan Dharamshala in the villages of Adhoi and Samkhiyari for seven days after the shooting. They then travelled by train to Ujjain, stayed there for 15 days, moved to Mumbai where they lived in a hotel in the Borivali area for another 15 days, and later returned to Ujjain.

Arrested individuals

Maulikbhai Pratapbhai Shankarlal Thakkar, resident of Shilaj

* Jitendra alias Jitu Pratapbhai Shankarlal Thakkar, resident of Science City

Items seized:

- One revolver

* Two empty cartridge cases

* Ten live cartridges

* Two mobile phones

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch said further investigation into the case is under ongoing way.