In a tragic turn of events, an 18-year-old woman, Chandrika, was found dead two days before her scheduled appearance in the Gujarat High Court concerning a habeas corpus petition filed by her live-in partner. Authorities have labeled her death an honor killing, implicating her father and uncle. Reports indicate that the accused attempted to conceal the murder by fabricating a narrative; they informed their family that Chandrika died by suicide while suggesting to the village that she succumbed to a heart attack. This ruse was intended to secure a death certificate and avoid scrutiny regarding the unexpected death, as the police were not notified.
The First Information Report (FIR) states that Chandrika’s father, Sendha Darga Patel, and her uncle, Shivram Darga Patel, are responsible for her murder, reportedly hanging her in their home. They have been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder, causing harm with a poisonous substance, concealing evidence, and being present as abettors. While Shivram has been apprehended, Sendha remains at large.
The investigation, prompted by a complaint from Chandrika’s partner, Haresh Chaudhary, commenced on August 1 under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Suman Nala. By Wednesday morning, police claimed to have secured confessions regarding both the murder and the twofold cover-up involving suicide and heart attack.
Initially, the case posed significant challenges for ASP Nala, as there was no body for a post-mortem, nor were there security cameras in the area. The village of Dantiya, where the incident occurred, is remote, situated 23 kilometers from Tharad’s taluka headquarters and 101 kilometers from Palanpur district.
On the first day of the investigation, authorities detained seven close family members of Chandrika. As they probed into each person’s account, inconsistencies began to surface. Police discovered that Sendha and Shivram were primarily implicated in the crime, with Shivram reportedly confessing and naming Sendha as his accomplice. It is believed that Chandrika died on the night of June 24, allegedly from hanging.
After the act, Sendha and Shivram summoned male relatives to assist in removing Chandrika’s body from the hanging position at 1:30 a.m. on June 25. Many relatives were unaware of the murder, mistakenly believing it to be a suicide. By morning, family members were informed that she had taken her own life. The extended family subsequently agreed to present her death as a natural occurrence to avoid any inquiries. Chandrika’s cremation occurred later that same day, with even her brother, who was studying in Palanpur, not being notified to return for the last rites.
The family succeeded in securing a death certificate, which they submitted to the Gujarat High Court, leading to the dismissal of the habeas corpus petition filed by Chaudhary. Presently, only Sendha and Shivram face murder charges, but further developments are anticipated once Sendha is located and questioned.
The FIR, lodged on Wednesday, recounts how Chaudhary first met Chandrika in February when she requested a ride to Palanpur. Their relationship blossomed, but Chandrika’s family rejected her appeals to pursue nursing, opting instead to arrange her marriage. They eloped on June 4, formalizing a live-in relationship contract a day later. Following a stint in a Rajasthan resort, they were apprehended by police on June 12; Chandrika was returned to her relatives while Chaudhary was arrested on unrelated charges.
Chaudhary managed to secure bail on June 21. However, he discovered alarming messages from Chandrika, in which she feared for her life due to her family’s insistence on marrying her off. On June 23, Chaudhary’s attorney filed a habeas corpus writ, prompting the court to demand Chandrika’s presence by June 27. Tragically, on June 25, he learned of her death and sought an inquiry.
During the subsequent court proceedings on June 27, the High Court was informed of Chandrika’s passing, prompting Justice Vaibhavi Nanavati to dismiss the petition. On August 6, Chaudhary was told by police that Shivram had fed Chandrika dinner laced with sleep medication on June 24 upon realizing she might attempt to elope again. Following that, Chandrika was murdered to create the illusion of suicide.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/banaskantha-teenagers-death-was-a-case-of-honour-killing-disguised-as-suicide-heart-attack-police-uncle-arrested-10174348/
Category: Ahmedabad,Cities
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Publish Date: 2025-08-07 03:25:00
