Land dispute link emerges in builder Himmat Rudani murder; partner’s son earlier booked in ₹1.5-crore fraud case

Fresh details have emerged in the sensational murder of city builder Himmat Kanubhai Rudani (62), found stabbed to death in the boot of his white Mercedes under the Viratnagar overbridge on Saturday night, pointing to a long-running land dispute between Rudani and another prominent developer, Mansukh Lakhani alias Mansukh Jackie.

Dispute dating back to January 2024

Police sources said that the two builders were locked in a bitter fight over a plot of land near Nikol’s Gangotri Circle. The dispute had earlier spilled into the open in January 2024, when an FIR was registered following a confrontation over ownership claims.

Investigators revealed that Rudani’s son Dhaval had, lodged  complaint with the CID Crime’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Kinjal Lakhani, son of Mansukh Lakhani, alleging cheating and criminal breach of trust involving ₹1.5 crore.

Alleged forgery and bogus sales

According to the EOW complaint, Kinjal Lakhani allegedly forged Dhaval Rudani’s signature and created a fake authority letterhead of their joint firm, K D Developers, to withdraw ₹1.5 crore from their cooperative bank account. He is also accused of selling several shops in the commercial project without the partner’s knowledge.

The project, launched after Dhaval Rudani and Kinjal Lakhani jointly purchased land worth ₹3 crore near Nikol’s Gangotri Circle, was based on a 50:50 partnership agreement. The EOW FIR alleges that Kinjal used forged documents to remove his partner from the venture’s control and siphoned off the proceeds.

Murder probe continues

While investigators have not yet drawn a direct link between the financial dispute and Himmat Rudani’s killing, senior officers said the land row and the ongoing economic offences case have become key angles in the murder investigation.

“Both the old land dispute and the fraud case involving the families are under scrutiny. We are exploring every possible motive,” a senior Ahmedabad police official told Gujarat Samachar Digital 

The murder Rudani was found with multiple stab wounds has already rattled the city’s real-estate fraternity. Police have appealed for information from anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the Viratnagar overbridge on Saturday night, even as they continue to interrogate the suspects arrested from Rajasthan in connection with the killing.