In a shocking case, Kutiyana police have uncovered an alleged murder in which a man is accused of killing his friend, burning the body, and dumping the remains in a river to destroy evidence.
According to the FIR filed by the deceased's father, Govind Methaniy, on Friday, the incident occurred on the night of January 1, 2025, in Chauta village. The deceased, 33-year-old Narendra alias Bharat, worked at a pan-bidi shop owned by the accused, Maldev Nandhaniya, and was residing at his house.
Police said the incident stemmed from a dispute after Narendra expressed his wish to attend a 'Sonalbeej' celebration, which was allegedly denied by Maldev. The disagreement escalated into an altercation in the courtyard of the house.
During the confrontation, Maldev allegedly struck Narendra on the head multiple times with a stone, killing him on the spot. To conceal the crime, the accused is said to have burnt the body using petrol and wood in the courtyard. He later washed the area, collected the remains and bone fragments in a sack, and disposed of them in the Bhadar river.
Earlier, Narendra's parents had lodged a missing complaint at Kutiyana police station on January 5, 2025, after losing contact with their son and receiving evasive responses from the accused. Suspicion intensified when Maldev also went missing from his residence without informing anyone.
During the investigation, police traced and detained Maldev for questioning. Officials said he subsequently confessed to the murder and the alleged destruction of evidence. 'The accused is a schoolteacher. We have recorded the statement of his mother, which provides corroborative evidence. We are also probing the nature of the relationship between the accused and the victim,' a police officer said.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
