Rajkot, March 8 – The Crime Branch has arrested two wanted accused in the high-profile Mafabhai Patel murder case in Banaskantha. The suspects, identified as Dharmesh alias Kalu alias Surya alias Suraj alias Devo alias Devendra Ambaram alias Valji Jejariya (25), a resident of Limbdi, originally from Ralol village in Limbdi taluka, and Samadhan alias Adhikar alias Jigar Anandsingh Girase (27), a resident of Amalner in Jalgaon district, originally from Dhule, Maharashtra, were apprehended in Rajkot with a country-made pistol. The authorities are continuing their investigation into the case.
As per media reports, Dharmesh had been previously arrested in connection with a murder that took place in the Limbdi police jurisdiction in 2021. He was later sent to Sabarmati Jail. However, after being granted interim bail from January 10 to January 18, 2023, he failed to return to jail and absconded. In 2024, he was implicated as a shooter for the notorious Anil Kathi gang in the murder of Mafabhai Patel in Banaskantha, along with Samadhan, who was also wanted in the case.
Further investigations revealed that the duo was also involved in ATM thefts within the jurisdiction of Wagra and Dahej police stations in Bharuch. Additionally, they were responsible for stealing ₹26.23 lakh from an ATM in Nandurbar, Maharashtra. With this arrest, the authorities have now solved three major crimes linked to them, including the Banaskantha murder case and two ATM heists in Bharuch, while their involvement in the Nandurbar theft is also being established.
Dharmesh already has murder charges against him in Banaskantha and Limbdi, while Samadhan has been implicated in five criminal cases across Maharashtra and Gujarat, including murder, attempted murder, and prohibition violations.
Acting on a tip-off, Crime Branch ASI Ranjitbhai Padhariya, Ashokbhai Kalal, and Jamadar Sanjaybhai Dafda received information that the two accused were near Rang Upvan Gate at Hanuman Madhi in Rajkot. Based on this intelligence, PSI M.K. Movalia led a team to arrest them. A country-made pistol was recovered from their possession, leading to an additional case under the Arms Act. Two mobile phones were also seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
