The man who had tip-off about the arrest of alleged serial killer, Navalsinh Chavda, has now been arrested, officials confirmed on Thursday. Jigar Gohil, who provided information to Ahmedabad Police regarding Chavda’s whereabouts, is now facing charges in connection with multiple murders linked to the self-styled, occultist, according to Rajkot Rural Police.
Chavda, who is suspected of murdering as many as 12 people over the last decade, reportedly confessed to the crimes following his arrest on December 3.
Gohil was also credited with saving the life of Ahmedabad businessman Abhijeetsinh Bharatkumar Rajput by alerting Sarkhej Police about Chavda’s alleged plot to kill him.
It is alleged that Gohil “pretended to stay close to Chavda” as he suspected the occultist’s involvement in the death of his own brother, Vivek Bhanu Gohil.
When asked about Gohil’s role in the killings linked to Chavda, Rajkot Rural Superintendent of Police Himkar Singh stated, “Gohil knew Chavda had murdered his brother and still drove him around. He was an accomplice in the murder of the four members of the Mukassam family. However, he had a change of heart — firstly, because he knew the next possible victim, Abhijeetsinh Rajput, and didn’t want him to die; and secondly, because he feared that Chavda would kill him next because he knew about the other murders.”
Gohil has now been arrested as a co-accused in the killings of the Mukassam family — Kader Ali Mukassam, his wife Farida Kader Mukassam, and their son Asif Kader Mukassam — in Paddhari, according to the Rajkot Rural Police. SP Singh also mentioned that Gohil was allegedly involved in the murder and disposal of the body of Nagma Kader Mukassam in Wankaner, Morbi.
Chavda, the 42-year-old occultist, was arrested at approximately 1 am on December 3 on charges of conspiring to murder Abhijeetsinh Bharatkumar Rajput, based on information provided by Gohil. He died on December 8 while still in the custody of Sarkhej Police. Despite his death, Gujarat Police have continued the investigation into the 12 murders. Chavda had allegedly admitted to his role in these killings before his death in police custody.
Following his arrest, seven deaths that were previously attributed to natural causes were reinvestigated. Surendranagar Police filed a case for the murder of Dipesh Patadiya, Prafulla Patadiya, and Utsavi Patadiya in Surendranagar. Morbi Police also filed a case regarding the murder and concealment of the body of Nagma Kader Mukassam in Wankaner. On Thursday, an additional FIR was filed by Rajkot Rural Police for the murders of Nagma’s three other family members.
However, the investigation still leaves many unanswered questions surrounding the killings of five individuals: Raj Bavaji in Anjar (Kutch), Vivek Bhanu Gohil in Aslali (Gandhinagar), as well as three members of Chavda’s own family — his paternal grandmother Mangu Bhukhubhai, mother Saroj Kanu Chavda, and paternal uncle Sura Kaka in Surendranagar.
Meanwhile, the custodial death of Chavda is currently under investigation by ACP AB Valand of the M Division of Ahmedabad City Police.
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