Inspired by 'Drishyam', Woman Fakes Her Own Death by Killing a Man with Lover’s Help in Gujarat; Arrested

Patan (Gujarat), May 28 – In a chilling case inspired by a Bollywood thriller, a 22-year-old married woman in Gujarat allegedly conspired with her lover to fake her own death by murdering a middle-aged man and dressing his body in her clothes before setting it on fire. Police said both the woman and her lover have been arrested.

As per agency report, the half-burnt body was discovered late Tuesday night near a pond in Jakhotra village, located in the Santalpur taluka of Patan district. The woman, identified as Geeta Ahir, and her lover Bharat Ahir (21), were arrested early Wednesday at Palanpur railway station while attempting to flee to Rajasthan.

According to Patan Superintendent of Police V.K. Nai, Geeta was living with her husband in Jakhotra village when she devised the plan, heavily inspired by the plot of the films ‘Drishyam’ and ‘Drishyam 2’. She persuaded her lover to find a body they could use to fake her death so the couple could elope and live together.

On Tuesday night, Geeta allegedly left her house while her family was asleep. Hours later, her husband and relatives began searching for her and found a charred body near the village pond. The body was wearing Geeta’s clothes and anklets, leading her family to initially believe it was hers. However, when the body was brought home, they realized it was a male corpse.

The deceased was later identified as 56-year-old Harjibhai Solanki, a nomadic man from Vauva village in the same taluka. Bharat reportedly spotted Solanki on May 26, offered him a ride on his motorcycle, and later strangled him to death at a secluded spot.

Police said Bharat transported the body to the pond near Jakhotra, where Geeta met him on Tuesday night with a bottle of petrol. They dressed the body in her clothes and set it on fire, hoping to mislead the authorities.

Investigators discovered Geeta’s relationship with Bharat and suspected the duo might flee to Rajasthan. A team was dispatched to Palanpur railway station, where they were caught waiting for a train to Jodhpur.

Both Geeta and Bharat have confessed to the crime. SP Nai stated that the murder and elaborate staging were planned entirely to fake Geeta’s death so she could escape her marital life and live with Bharat.

Police have registered a case of murder and are continuing their investigation into how the plan was executed and if anyone else was involved.