Gujarat: BJP leader, wife were killed by farmer over Rs 20,000 dispute in Mahisagar

VADODARA: A dispute over merely Rs 20,000 has emerged as the reason for the brutal murder of veteran BJP member from Mahisagar and his wife who were hacked to death on the night of August 4.
Cracking the case, Mahisagar police arrested Bhikha Patel, who was known to the deceased Tribhuvandas Panchal. Cops zeroed in on Patel after checking the details of Panchal’s call records which revealed that he had been repeatedly speaking to Patel a day before the murder.
Panchal, who was associated with BJP since the Jan Sangh days, was the member of Mahisagar district BJP executive committee.His wife Jashoda was also murdered allegedly by Patel in their Golana Palla village of Lunawada taluka.
Patel told the police that he had taken Rs 20,000 from Panchal and the latter had been asking for money for some time. He said Panchal was often rude with him, and on August 4, he used insulting words after which Patel decided to kill him.
Patel is a farmer and lives near Panchal’s house.
Deputy superintendent of police, NV Patel, said that with no valuables or cash missing, it was evident that robbery was not the motive. It had also become clear that the murderer may have been known to Panchal as he had gone into the courtyard and opened the gate at the back of the house. He got up even when he was having dinner as food was found on his hand.
A key of the rear gate was also found near the body, indicating that he had opened the gate. This gate was not used commonly except at times when Panchal wanted to go to buy milk. The couple and others used the front entrance of the house.
Information gathered by the police also revealed that there were some financial dealings between Panchal and Bhikha. Police interrogated Patel who confessed to the crime and led the police to the murder weapon and Panchal’s phone too.
Patel said he killed Panchal’s wife too as she had witnessed the murder.