Ahmedabad: Vastrapur police on Tuesday caught a man and his wife, residents of the Memnagar area, for allegedly killing a 75-year-old NRI from Canada.
The body of the senior citizen, Kanaiyalal Bhavsar, was found at his flat in Mohini Tower on Jan 12. He had been living there for the past one-and-a-half years.
Initially perceived as a natural death, the incident unfolded into a shocking case of murder and robbery after missing valuables raised suspicions.
Kanaiyalal’s wife, Varsha Bhavsar, 67, found him lifeless upon returning home on the evening of Jan 12 and reported the matter to police. Forensic examination confirmed strangulation as the cause of death, leading to a full-fledged murder investigation.
Police inquiries revealed that on the afternoon of Jan 12, a woman entered the apartment without registering at the security desk. CCTV footage later corroborated her presence.
Further investigation uncovered that the woman, identified as Hina Thakor, 34, was acquainted with Kanaiyalal through a spa he often visited. During their 18-month association, Hina became aware of his wealth and hatched a plan with her husband Anand to rob him. The accused are residents of Gopalnagar in Memnagar.
On the day of the incident, she visited Kanaiyalal on the pretext of a friendly meeting and giving him a massage.
Seizing an opportunity, she incapacitated him and let Anand inside to steal valuables, including gold jewellery, cash and electronic devices. However, when Kanaiyalal regained partial consciousness, Hina panicked and strangulated him.
The accused couple then fled the apartment with the stolen items, worth Rs 5 lakh, but their escape was short-lived.
Acting on a tip-off about two individuals attempting to sell a stolen mobile near Relief Road, the police apprehended the suspects.
The duo had planned to escape to Mumbai to evade arrest. The stolen valuables have been recovered and the accused are now in custody, police said.
Vastrapur police registered a complaint of murder, robbery and abetment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).