Ahmedabad Crime Branch solves 9-year-old murder mystery, husband arrested for newlywed's killing

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has solved a nine-year-old murder case by identifying a woman whose death was initially treated as an accidental drowning and arresting her husband, who allegedly pushed her into the Sabarmati River during the 2017 Rath Yatra before filing a false missing complaint.

The case involved the death of Komalben Solanki, whose disappearance in 2017 had remained shrouded in mystery for almost a decade.

According to the Crime Branch Senior official, Komalben went missing barely four months after marrying Minesh Dineshbhai Solanki. At the time, her husband reported her missing at Kalupur Police Station, claiming she had disappeared after the couple visited the Sabarmati Riverfront during the annual Rath Yatra celebrations.

Investigators said the woman's body was subsequently recovered from the Sabarmati River but, as her identity could not be established, the case was registered as an accidental death. The investigation made little progress, and the case remained unresolved for years.

DCB officials revisited the matter as part of a review of unsolved cases and launched a fresh investigation using a combination of human intelligence, technical surveillance and forensic analysis.

The renewed probe allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting that the missing woman had never accidentally drowned. Instead, investigators concluded that her husband had allegedly orchestrated a meticulously planned murder.

According to police, Minesh Solanki allegedly chose the crowded Rath Yatra festival day to execute his plan, believing that the large gatherings and movement of people would help conceal the crime. After spending time with his wife, he allegedly pushed her into the Sabarmati River, resulting in her death, before attempting to cover his tracks by filing a false missing person's complaint the following day.

Crime Branch officers said the investigation eventually established the identity of the victim, dismantled the accused's version of events and gathered sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.

The prime accused, identified as Minesh Dineshbhai Solanki (31), has now been arrested. Police further stated that he has a criminal history involving offences related to fraud and bootlegging.