Wife, alleged accomplice held as Ahmedabad Crime Branch solves mysterious canal death

The Detection of Crime Branch of Ahmedabad City has uncovered a murder conspiracy concealed behind a suspected accidental death case in Surendranagar district, following a prolonged human intelligence-based investigation.

Police said the case pertained to the death of Shantigiri Vishnugiri Goswami, a resident of Soladi village in Dhrangadhra taluka of Surendranagar district, whose body had earlier been recovered from a canal area and initially treated as an accidental death involving an unidentified person.

According to the Crime Branch official, fresh intelligence inputs and discreet field inquiries raised suspicion regarding the circumstances surrounding the death, prompting officials to reopen and verify the case through sustained surveillance and interrogation.

Investigators alleged that during the course of the probe, it emerged that the deceased’s wife, Jagrutiben, had allegedly developed close relations with co-accused Kantilal alias Bharatbhai Laljibhai Sabariya over a prolonged period.

Police said preliminary findings suggested that ongoing domestic disputes and personal conflicts allegedly led the accused persons to conspire against Shantigiri Goswami.

According to officials, Kantilal alias Bharatbhai Sabariya allegedly played an active role in the murder as well as in the destruction of evidence, while Jagrutiben allegedly facilitated and participated in the conspiracy and subsequent concealment of the offence.

The accused allegedly attempted to suppress the matter by portraying that the deceased had voluntarily left home and by avoiding the filing of any formal missing person complaint, police said.

Crime Branch officials further stated that the offence remained hidden for several months, with the unidentified body initially being handled as an accidental death case in Surendranagar district. However, investigators were eventually able to connect crucial leads through human intelligence networks, identify the deceased and establish the alleged conspiracy behind the incident.

Based on the findings, Ahmedabad Crime Branch apprehended both accused persons on May 17.

The arrested accused have been identified as Kantilal alias Bharatbhai Laljibhai Sabariya, alleged to be the principal conspirator and participant in the murder and destruction of evidence, and Jagrutiben, wife of the deceased, who is alleged to have been involved in planning, facilitating and concealing the offence.