Patan: In a chilling and dramatic twist of events, a 22-year-old married woman from Jakhotra village in Patan district faked her own death and, along with her lover, allegedly murdered a homeless man to cover up their elopement. Inspired by the Bollywood thriller Drishyam, the duo tried to stage her death by burning the man’s body dressed in her clothes, but the plan quickly unraveled.
The case came to light when her family members discovered a half-burnt corpse near a pond in Santalpur on Tuesday. The body was clothed in garments and anklets belonging to the woman, Geeta Ahir, leading her family to believe she had been killed. Shock and grief quickly turned into confusion after police determined that the victim was not a woman at all, but a man.
Further investigation revealed the body belonged to 56-year-old Harjibhai Solanki, a Dalit man from Vauva village. As suspicions grew, the Patan police traced Geeta and her lover, Bharat Ahir, to Palanpur railway station, where they were preparing to board a train to Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Both were detained on the spot.
During questioning, the couple confessed to the elaborate murder and deception. Geeta admitted she wanted to escape her arranged marriage and start a new life with Bharat. To avoid pursuit from her family, they devised a plan to fake her death and flee.
Superintendent of Police V.K. Nayi stated that Geeta drew inspiration from the popular crime thriller Drishyam and its sequel. “She wanted to erase her existence in the eyes of her family and used the idea from the film to stage her death with another person’s body,” he said.
According to police reports, Bharat lured Harjibhai Solanki under the pretense of offering him a ride. He then took him to a remote location and strangled him on May 26. Two nights later, Geeta sneaked out of her house and met Bharat near the pond. They dressed the victim in her clothes and anklets, doused the body in petrol, and set it on fire, hoping to convince her family she had died in an accident or an attack.
Their plan was to escape unnoticed and start a new life in Rajasthan. However, forensic analysis, inconsistencies in the burn pattern, and quick police work exposed the truth. A case of murder has been registered against both accused, and they remain in police custody as further investigation continues. The shocking case has left the local community stunned and has once again highlighted how fiction can dangerously inspire real-life crimes.