What began as a missing person’s case has turned into a shocking murder investigation in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district. A man who had been missing for more than two years was allegedly murdered by his wife, her alleged lover and another accomplice before being buried beneath the concrete floor of a factory. His family was allegedly told all this while that he had gone to Australia for work.
Police have arrested Pruthvi alias Bhoomi (27), the wife of the missing man Jignesh Mavadiya (36), her alleged lover Nilesh Mansukh Kachhatiya (36), and Balveer (also reported as Balram) Deviram Verma (41) in connection with the case. Investigators believe the three conspired to poison Jignesh with cyanide-laced liquor, bury his body inside a rented factory in Dared GIDC, and hide the crime for over two years.
While skeletal remains have been recovered from the site, police said DNA profiling is still underway to officially confirm that the remains belong to Jignesh.
Family Believed Jignesh Was Working in Australia
According to police, Jignesh married Pruthvi around seven years ago after a love marriage. The couple first lived in Dwarka, later shifted to Ranavav in Porbandar district, and eventually settled in Jamnagar around three years ago. They have two daughters, aged six years and one-and-a-half years.
For nearly a year after moving to Jamnagar, Jignesh remained in regular contact with his elder brother, Ashok Mavadiya. Then, all communication suddenly stopped.
Whenever relatives asked about him, Pruthvi allegedly gave different explanations. Initially, she avoided answering questions. Later, she claimed Jignesh had travelled to Australia for work, saying he could not use a mobile phone at his workplace and therefore could not contact his family.
For almost two years, the family believed her version and waited for Jignesh to return.
Family’s Doubts Grew Stronger
The family’s suspicion grew when Jignesh’s cousin Deepak informed Pruthvi that he was planning to travel to Australia and requested Jignesh’s contact details so he could meet him or carry something from India.
According to investigators, Pruthvi failed to arrange any communication between the two.
Deepak then reportedly warned her that if she continued avoiding the family’s questions, they would approach the police and file a missing person’s complaint.
A Meeting That Changed Everything
Before the family could take further action, Pruthvi allegedly contacted Ashok and asked him to meet her on July 24 at a relative’s house.
Police said she arrived there accompanied by Nilesh Kachhatiya.
According to Ashok’s complaint, the two allegedly told him not to search for Jignesh anymore because he had been killed two years earlier and that his last rites had already been performed.
Shocked by the revelation, Ashok informed other family members and approached the police.
He first lodged a missing person’s complaint at Jamnagar City B Division Police Station on July 26, following which the investigation intensified.
Police Investigation Leads to Chilling Discovery
During the investigation, police discovered that Jignesh had attended a liquor party at a factory in the Dared GIDC industrial area on May 31, 2024.
Investigators believe that during the gathering, cyanide was allegedly mixed into his alcohol as part of a planned conspiracy.
After Jignesh died, the accused allegedly dug a 12-foot-deep pit inside the factory premises, buried his body and later covered the area with a concrete floor to erase all traces of the crime.
The factory had reportedly been leased jointly by Jignesh and Nilesh for starting a business.
Following information provided during the investigation and statements made by the arrested accused, police excavated the factory premises using heavy machinery on Wednesday night. Human skeletal remains were recovered from beneath the concrete floor.
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has collected the remains, and DNA testing is being conducted to establish the identity of the deceased.
Three Arrested in the Case
Police have arrested:
Pruthvi alias Bhoomi (27) – Jignesh’s wife
Nilesh Mansukh Kachhatiya (36) – her alleged lover
Balveer (Balram) Deviram Verma (41) – Nilesh’s associate and a labourer from Uttar Pradesh working in Jamnagar
A case has been registered at Panch B Division Police Station under charges of murder, criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence based on Ashok Mavadiya’s complaint.
According to investigators, Nilesh had earlier worked in Dwarka, where he allegedly met Pruthvi and the two developed a relationship.
During preliminary questioning, police claim Pruthvi told investigators that frequent marital disputes had left her frustrated and that she sought Nilesh’s help in eliminating Jignesh. Police further allege that Nilesh later involved Verma in carrying out the conspiracy.
Investigation Still Underway
Assistant Superintendent of Police Pratibha, Lalpur Division, said the investigation is continuing and that the FIR was strengthened after statements made by the arrested accused led investigators to the burial site.
Police are now trying to determine:
How the accused allegedly procured cyanide.
Whether Nilesh financially supported Pruthvi after Jignesh’s disappearance.
Whether any other persons were involved in the conspiracy.
The circumstances surrounding the younger daughter’s paternity, which investigators have said will also be examined as part of the probe.
Officials have stressed that the identity of the recovered skeletal remains will only be confirmed after the DNA profiling report is completed.
A Two-Year Cover-Up Ends
What appeared to be the story of a man who had left India for better employment abroad has now become one of Gujarat’s most disturbing alleged murder cases. For more than two years, Jignesh’s family searched for answers while believing he was working overseas. Their persistence, however, eventually exposed a case that investigators allege involved murder, concealment of evidence and an elaborate attempt to keep the truth hidden beneath the floor of a factory.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are continuing to gather forensic and documentary evidence before filing a detailed chargesheet.
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