Notorious Chirag Goti attacked by mob during scene reconstruction in Surat

Tension prevailed in Surat after a large crowd gathered on Monday when police brought notorious criminal Chirag Goti to a locality for reconstruction of a crime scene. Angry protesters attempted to assault him before officers intervened.

Surat City Special Operations Group (SOG) officers escorted Goti to the spot as part of the investigation. However, thousands of residents gathered on the road upon learning of his presence. The situation quickly turned volatile, with some individuals allegedly attacking the accused with a stick and tearing his shirt.

Police personnel intervened and managed to shield Goti amid the chaos. 

Demands for death penalty

Outside Goti’s residence, some people burst firecrackers and staged protests, beating drums and demanding the death penalty for the accused. While crime scene reconstructions typically take place under heavy security, officers were reportedly taken aback by the intensity of public outrage.

Witnesses said Goti appeared visibly shaken and was seen apologising with folded hands during the confrontation.

Community leaders seek strict punishment

Leaders of the Gurjar Kshatriya Kadiya community demanded stringent punishment for the accused. Goti belongs to the Prajapati Kadiya community. 

A social media post criticising the local Katargam MLA had sparked tensions, following which community leaders publicly backed the MLA’s ‘zero tolerance’ stance.

Community representatives stated that criminal acts should not be linked to caste and that justice must proceed without interference from social or political considerations.

“An individual committing a crime has no caste. The law should take its course impartially,” a community leader said.

Goti’s father also arrested

Police have also arrested Goti’s father, Ghanshyam Goti, who is alleged to have been involved in several of his son’s activities.

Investigators claim that Goti would allegedly lure individuals, intimidate and assault them, record videos of the incidents and circulate them to instil fear and prevent complaints.

Drug case background

One case relating to drugs dates back around 10 months, when police arrested oil trader Alpesh Miyani during a vehicle check and seized drugs worth Rs 7.87 lakh from his car.

Subsequent investigations revealed that Goti had allegedly planted the narcotics in Miyani’s vehicle following a dispute with him. Police said Goti himself had tipped off authorities, leading to Miyani’s arrest.

However, during the course of the probe, Goti’s alleged involvement in the conspiracy came to light. After a complaint was registered against him, he reportedly changed locations frequently to evade arrest and fled to Nepal, staying in various hotels before eventually surrendering in a Surat court.

Police records indicate that more than six cases, including charges of extortion and criminal intimidation, have been registered against Goti. Investigations are ongoing.