Four arrested for killing murder witness

Ahmedabad: The cyber cell of the city crime branch cracked the mystery behind a half-burnt body found on the outskirts of Nidhrad village with the arrest of four history-sheeters, while hunt is on for the main accused Kalpesh Savant, and another. The deceased has been identified as one Ketan Bhatia who was an eyewitness in the murder of Santosh Savant, Kalpesh's brother, by a rival gang in Isanpur, last year.
Cyber cell sources said the accused were nabbed just in time on Wednesday from Vadaj, before they could flee.
Primary investigation has revealed that after Bhatia refused orders of Kalpesh to implicate the accused in his brother's murder in the way he wanted, Kalpesh decided to do away with Bhatia.
Sources in the crime branch said that after Bhatia was killed, his body was concealed by the murderers in a manner shown in a Bollywood thriller, but later, they lost nerve, shifted the body and torched it.
ACP, cyber cell, Rajdeepsinh Zala said they have arrested Bharat Mevada, a listed bootlegger, Mahesh Rathod, Chetan Mackwana and Amit Chavda, while they are hunting for Kalpesh Savant.
"Kalpesh wanted Bhatia to depose before the court in a way which would clinch conviction of the accused in his brother's murder case. However, Bhatia argued that he would only depose what he had seen. This enraged Kalpesh and his associates, who then kidnapped Bhatia after he testified in court on June 10, and took him to Mevada's house at Vadaj. They beat him with sticks, resulting in his death," added ACP Zala.
The accused then buried Bhatia's body in Mevada's veranda by removing the tiles, and thought themselves safe, added a police official. Police sub-inspector V K Khant, who solved the case, said they got frightened and dug out the body on the day after the murder with the help of one Sanjay Chauhan.
"Chauhan then brought an MUV owned by his friend Hasmukh Sonara and took Ketan's body to the outskirts of Nidhrad village and torched the body to avoid identification," said PSI Khant, adding "We are looking for him."
ACP Zala said Mevada and Mackwana had been earlier arrested by Naranpura police in connection with the murder of one Sonu Bhaiya. "There are several prohibition cases against Mevada, and he has been earlier detained under Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA)," Zala added.
Cyber cell sources said there are cases of prohibition and assault registered against Rathod and Mackwana in Naranpura police station.