The death of Rajkumar, a young man from the Jat community in Gujarat’s Rajkot, has been confirmed as a result of a bus accident, according to reports. Rajkumar, son of Ratanlal Jat, went missing on March 2, the same day he and his father allegedly had an altercation with security personnel outside the residence of Gondal MLA Geetaba Jadeja.
His body was discovered on March 4 on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad Highway and later identified on March 9.
The body had been kept in the mortuary of Rajkot Hospital. Rajkumar had been preparing for the UPSC exams. Following the discovery, his father accused former Gondal MLA Jayrajsinh and his son Ganesh Jadeja of murder.
Rajkot DCP Crime Parthrajsinh Gohil stated that the initial case was registered as a road accident due to the circumstances of the discovery.
The controversy surrounding the incident prompted Police Commissioner Brijesh Kumar Jha and Additional Police Commissioner Mahendra Bagadia to form multiple investigation teams, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), Kuvadva Road Police Station, Local Crime Branch (LCB), and Zone-1.
Investigators reviewed footage from over 150 CCTV cameras within a 4-5 km radius. A dumper driver provided key information, stating that he saw a body lying on the road at 2:33 am.
Authorities subsequently identified a bus from Mahasagar Travels, bearing the number 3131, as possibly involved. Investigations indicated that the accident likely occurred between 2:15 and 2:30 am on March 4.
The bus driver, questioned with assistance from Junagadh Police, admitted to accidentally hitting a pedestrian walking in the middle of the road while descending from a bridge at night.
Initially, he had falsely informed his employer that a Nilgai had crossed in front of the bus.
Forensic experts have examined the bus, and Rajkot City Police continue to investigate other aspects of the case.
Despite the findings, Rajkumar’s father and villagers have demanded a second postmortem, a request that was denied by authorities.
Ratanlal Jat, originally from Jabariya village in Sahada town, Bhilwara district, has been selling pav bhaji in Gondal, Gujarat, for 30 years. His son Rajkumar had been preparing for the UPSC exams.
The family remains dissatisfied with the investigation and continues to seek justice.
Also Read: Rajkot-Gondal Death Case: Ex-BJP MLA’s Family Accused, CBI Probe Sought
