The Savarkundla Rural police on Saturday booked three individuals in connection with the murder of 26-year-old Nilesh Chudasama, a crime that reportedly stemmed from his romantic relationship with a married woman from another community.
Details of the Case
Based on a complaint lodged by the victim's brother, Viral, the police have booked Vijay alias Rakesh Nakum (the woman's husband), Tarun Bambhaniya, and Amit Hadia. Chudasama was found critically injured behind Virani High School in Badhada village near Savarkundla on April 29 and succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
In his complaint, Viral stated that Nilesh, while in severe pain, told him that members of the woman's family had brutally assaulted him. Viral further mentioned that Nilesh had been in a relationship with the married woman from a nearby village. He had left home on April 17, saying he was going to Surat to meet her, but contact was lost the next day after his phone was switched off.
Threats and Harassment
The family began receiving threats soon after. On April 18, an unidentified caller warned them that Nilesh had eloped with the woman and demanded her return. On April 25, Bambhaniya, Nakum, Hadia, and another person allegedly visited Nilesh's house, questioning the family about the woman.
The complaint also states that Bambhaniya posted two videos on Instagram. One showed Viral and his mother being questioned, while the other showed Nilesh seated and apologising to the Ahir community, with visible blade-cut injuries on his arms.
Sequence of Events
Sources said Nilesh and the woman had been staying at a hotel in Ahmedabad before he was allegedly traced and picked up on April 28 — a day before he was found fatally assaulted. In one of the videos, Bambhaniya is also seen issuing a warning that anyone eloping with a woman from the Ahir community would face severe consequences.
The police are investigating the matter further, and the accused remain at large. The case has once again highlighted the issue of honour killings in the region.
