In a swift operation, Ahmedabad City Police arrested two suspects within hours of the murder of 75-year-old Kanaiyalal Muljibhai Bhavsar, a resident of Mohini Tower, Vastrapur. The incident took place on January 13, between 10:45 am and 4:30 pm, when Bhavsar was strangled in his home, and his gold ornaments, cash, mobile phones, and other valuables were stolen.
Bhavsar, who held Canadian permanent residency, frequently visited Ahmedabad, where he had two children settled in Canada. His visits to the city were routine, making the murder even more shocking.
The crime was initially registered as an accidental death after Bhavsar’s wife, Varshaben (67), discovered his body. However, the post-mortem report confirmed that he had been strangled, prompting the police to escalate the investigation. An FIR was lodged at the Vastrapur police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Recognizing the severity of the crime, Ahmedabad’s Commissioner of Police ordered a joint team, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Balaram Meena, Local Crime Branch officials, and Vastrapur police officers, to investigate the case. The team utilized technical surveillance and intelligence to trace the suspects and apprehend them before they could flee Gujarat.
The accused were identified as Anand Prakash Thakor (29), a resident of Gopalnagar, Memnagar, and Nilofar alias Heena Akbar Ali Shaikh (34), a resident of Nuri Manzil, Virar, Mumbai. The police recovered stolen items worth Rs3.7 lakh, including three Apple mobile phones, four wristwatches (Rado, Casio, and Lobor brands), and cash.
The investigation revealed that Heena, originally from Mumbai, had moved to Ahmedabad a few years ago to work at a spa. It was there that she met Anand, a frequent visitor. The couple later married, and Heena continued offering private spa services while Anand worked as an auto driver.
Heena had first met Bhavsar around 18 months ago, during his visits to Ahmedabad, and visited his residence 14 to 15 times. Aware of Bhavsar’s NRI status and his possession of valuable items, the couple devised a plan to rob him. Heena would render Bhavsar unconscious during one of her visits, allowing Anand to enter unnoticed and steal the valuables. However, the plan unraveled when Bhavsar regained partial consciousness and confronted Anand. Panicking, the couple strangled Bhavsar and fled with the stolen items.
Balaram Meena, DCP Zone-1, stated, “The woman intentionally left the door unlocked so her husband could enter easily. They were caught in the Relief Road area while attempting to sell one of the stolen mobile phones. CCTV footage helped us trace Anand’s auto-rickshaw and track down both suspects.”
