Police fail to recover key mobile phone in Godhra rioting case during search of main accused’s house

Police in Panchmahal’s Godhra carried out a search operation at the residence of the main accused in the Chakchari rioting case but failed to recover a mobile phone believed to be a crucial piece of evidence. 

During the investigation, the accused, Zakir Jhabba, who is currently in police custody, had told police that he had left his mobile phone at his residence before fleeing.

Zakir, a social media influencer and the prime accused in the September 2025 vandalism incident at the Godhra ‘B’ Division police station, had been absconding for nearly six months. Acting on a tip-off that he was hiding in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, the Panchmahal SOG team conducted a film-style operation and arrested him from Hotel Ana Sagar.

A court had granted a 10-day police remand to the accused on April 8.

Acting on his statement, police brought him to his house at Wali Phalia No. 3, where he was escorted on foot from the police station, drawing a large crowd.

Despite a thorough search and panchnama, the phone was not found. The police believe that the device could reveal crucial links to the rioting case and related activities.