Ahmedabad man kills wife over affair suspicion, nabbed in Ghatkopar within an hour

Bobby Jangam, after being arrested in Mumbai. Pic/By Special Arrangement

A man brutally murdered his wife at their residence in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Tuesday (May 20) morning, over suspicion of being in an illicit relationship. After the crime, he fled to Ramabai Colony in Ghatkopar East, Mumbai, in an attempt to evade arrest. However, he was tracked down and arrested by the Pant Nagar police within just an hour, following a tip-off from the Gujarat Police. The couple, originally from Mumbai, had been living in Gujarat for the past seven years.

According to Gujarat Police, the husband, Bobby Jangam alias Anil, 28, was in the catering business and previously resided in Sathe Nagar, Ramabai Colony. He had moved to Ahmedabad with his wife, Reena Rajendra Verma, 25, for work-related reasons. Neighbours told the Gujarat Police that the couple quarrelled often, and on Tuesday morning, they found Reena's body in a bloodied state, bearing signs of a brutal attack. Police officers also confirmed that Reena was declared dead before arrival by doctors at the hospital.

Reena's preliminary post-mortem report revealed that she had been stabbed multiple times in the abdomen with a sharp object. She also sustained severe bruising on her face and neck, indicating a violent assault. Additionally, a portion of her scalp had been torn open with what appeared to be a sharp weapon, Gujarat Police confirmed.

Following the discovery of the body, Reena's husband Bobby was untraceable and subsequently declared absconding. Police launched a formal investigation into the murder, naming Bobby as the prime suspect. His mobile number was traced after it showed movement towards Mumbai, and his location fluctuated between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mulund, and Ghatkopar. Local police stations along this stretch were alerted by the Gujarat Police. They were also provided with photographs and basic details of the couple.

CCTV footage from LTT captured Bobby's movement, and his location was eventually pinned to the jurisdiction of the Pant Nagar police. "We formed two special detection teams, which began making inquiries in the area using the couple's photographs. Long-time residents of Ramabai Colony recognised Bobby from seven years ago, when he lived there. As the police searched for him in the area, he was spotted in an intoxicated state near a nullah," said Rajesh Kevale, senior inspector, Pant Nagar police station.

The search and arrest were carried out within an hour by a team led by Kevale, comprising API Rajendra Gaikwad, PSI Vikrant Takmoge and PSI Santosh Jadhav, among others. Bobby was brought to the Pant Nagar police station for questioning, where he was reportedly shocked that the police managed to track him down. "He told us that he murdered his wife in a fit of rage, claiming he had no intention to kill her. After the murder, he sat beside her body for nearly two hours, unsure of what to do. He also said that in the past seven years, he had never returned to Ramabai Colony, but after the incident, he believed it would be the safest place to hide, assuming the police would never think to look for him there," said an officer privy to the investigation.

Bobby told the police that the motive behind the murder stemmed from his ongoing suspicion that his wife was in an illicit relationship. He claimed they frequently argued over the issue and that, minutes before the incident, he lost his temper, leading to the fatal attack. Meanwhile, the investigating team from Gujarat's Narol police station arrived at Pant Nagar police station. Bobby was produced in court for a transit remand and subsequently handed over to the Narol police team. He has been booked by the Narol police under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for murder, along with applicable provisions of the Gujarat Police Act.