In a concerning development in the city, yet another murder has come to light.

In the early hours of Friday, the body of a 65-year-old land dealer, identified as Deepak Dashrathbhai Patel, was discovered near Garodiya village in Ahmedabad’s Bopal area.

The accused, Indrajit Singh alias Munnabhai Vaghela, was apprehended within hours of the crime being reported, from a coordinated investigation by the Local Crime Branch (LCB), Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Bopal Police.

The shocking murder came to light after Patel’s children, residing in the United States, tracked his location through his mobile phone.

According to police sources, Patel, a land broker, suspected to be Vaghela, left his home around midnight. He informed his wife that he was stepping out with a friend and would return within an hour. When he failed to return and stopped responding to calls and messages, his concerned wife contacted their children in the US.

Using location-tracking technology on their father’s iPhone, the children identified his last known location on the outskirts of Garodiya village. Acting on this information, family members rushed to the spot around 9 am, where they found Patel’s body with severe injuries to the head, back, and face. The Bopal police were immediately informed and reached the scene.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Patel had been brutally attacked with a stone near the road, and his body was dragged into nearby bushes. His body was found near the village boundary, prompting police and forensic teams to secure the area for evidence collection.

A police official said, "Patel’s children live in the US, and he and his wife often visit them. He had returned to India two months ago for the festive season and had remained an active land broker post-retirement. He has two bungalows in Ahmedabad, one in Hebatpur and the other in Sarkhej, He was staying in his Hebatpur residence when the incident took place.”

Investigators revealed that Patel had met Vaghela to discuss a potential land deal.

Vaghela, who had previously loaned Patel ₹61 lakh for a property deal in Sarkhej, was reportedly upset as Patel had failed to share the promised profits.

This unresolved financial grievance led to a heated argument during their meeting at Akalpya Farm, as confirmed by SP Om Prakash Jat.

“The dispute escalated during their conversation. In a fit of rage, Vaghela attacked Patel with an iron rod, fatally striking him on the head,” said Jat.

Post the attack, Vaghela hid Patel’s body in nearby bushes and fled the scene in Patel’s car. He later abandoned the vehicle at a hotel on Sanand-Viramgam Road and returned to his home.

Based on evidence collected from the crime scene, call detail records, and CCTV footage, police quickly identified Vaghela as the prime suspect.

During interrogation, Vaghela confessed to the crime.