In a chilling real-life echo of the crime thriller Drishyam, a 22-year-old woman, Geeta Ahir, and her 21-year-old lover, Bharat Ahir, were arrested in Gujarat’s Patan district for allegedly murdering a man and attempting to pass off his body as Geeta’s to fake her death.

The half-burnt corpse of 56-year-old Harjibhai Solanki was discovered near a pond in Jakhotra village, Santalpur taluka, on Tuesday night, leading to the duo’s capture at Palanpur railway station early Wednesday.

Patan Superintendent of Police V K Nayi revealed that Geeta, inspired by the Drishyam films, orchestrated the plan to escape her marriage and start a new life with Bharat. “Geeta convinced Bharat to find a body to stage her death, allowing them to flee to Rajasthan,” Nayi said at a press conference.

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On May 26, Bharat lured Solanki, a nomadic resident of Vauva village, with a motorcycle ride, strangled him at a secluded spot, and transported the body to Jakhotra.

Geeta, sneaking out of her home while her family slept, joined Bharat at the pond with a bottle of petrol. They dressed Solanki’s body in Geeta’s ghagra and anklets before setting it ablaze to simulate her death. Initially, Geeta’s family believed the body was hers, but closer inspection revealed it was male, prompting a murder investigation.

Acting on a tip that the lovers planned to escape by train, police intercepted them at Palanpur station en route to Jodhpur.

During interrogation, the duo confessed to the crime. Investigation is underway.

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