Woman beaten to death over property dispute in Ahmedabad, stepson detained for murder

A 50-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her stepson following a dispute over money and a mortgaged property at a makeshift settlement near Ropda Lake in the Anandnagar area of Ahmedabad.

The deceased, identified as Kapilaben Chunara, suffered fatal head injuries after she was attacked with a wooden stick on Friday night. Anandnagar police have detained the accused, Devendra alias David alias Aajo Chunara, under section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023), along with provisions of the Gujarat Police Act.

According to Anandnagar police, the complaint was lodged by Kapilaben’s daughter Gitaben Chunara (27), a vegetable vendor. The incident took place around 10 pm on January 30 at Kapilaben’s residence near the municipal vegetable market at Ropda Lake.

Police said Kapilaben had remarried Mukeshbhai Chunara nearly two decades ago after the death of her first husband. Mukeshbhai has two sons, including the accused, from his first marriage. Devendra frequently visited the house and allegedly quarrelled with Kapilaben over financial matters, particularly demanding money to redeem a house in Makraba that had been mortgaged.

Gitaben told the police that after the death of her husband in March 2025, she had moved in with her three minor daughters to live with her mother. The family had allegedly been facing repeated harassment and demands for money from Devendra.

On Friday night, Devendra allegedly arrived at the house and again demanded money, leading to a heated argument. During the altercation, he allegedly assaulted Kapilaben with a wooden stick, striking her on the head and other parts of the body, leaving her bleeding profusely.

Hearing the commotion, neighbours gathered at the spot. Kapilaben’s husband Mukeshbhai called the 108 emergency service, following which she was rushed to Sola Civil Hospital. Doctors, however, declared her dead on arrival. The accused was apprehended within hours of the crime, police said.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that a long-standing property dispute triggered the murder. The accused has been detained and is being questioned,” a senior police officer said, adding that further details would emerge after completion of the investigation.

A case of murder has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and police are recording statements of family members and neighbours to establish the sequence of events.