Rajkot jeweller forced to drink acid dies

RAJKOT: A jeweller making silver ornaments was forced to drink acid allegedly by three of his business rival over payment of dues in Jiyana village, about 18km from Rajkot city, on Monday night.

Rajkot-based jeweller Jayesh Chagan Ramani, a resident of Kabirvan Society on St Kabir Road, succumbed to internal injuries at Rajkot Civil Hospital. Police have arrested Kishor Ramani (28), his brother Jitendra Ramani (26) and father Chanabhai Ramani (54) for Jayesh’s murder.

According to Jayesh’s father Chagan, his son had supplied silver ornaments worth Rs 26 lakh to Kishor over the past one year. However, Kishor had been avoiding payment since past couple of months. Kishor had been claiming that he owed only Rs 5 lakh to Jayesh.

The complaint stated that on Monday, Kishor called Jayesh and asked him to come to his native village Jiyana to collect the payment. When Jayesh reached there, Kishor, Jitendra and Chanabhai nabbed him and forced him to drink acid.

After the incident, Kishor lodged a police complaint with Kuvadva police station alleging that Jayesh drank acid after stabbing him with a knife in a fit of anger. Kishor claimed that Jayesh got angry after he told him that he did not have money to repay him. Both — Jayesh and Kishor — were taken to Rajkot Civil Hospital, where Jayesh succumbed late on Monday.

Jayesh’s family refused to accept his body saying that Jayesh was murdered. Deceased’s father also alleged that the accused forged a suicide note in Jayesh’s name, where he admits of ending life.

Kuvadva police inspector A R Modhiya said that after investigation Kishor, Jitendra and Chanabhai were arrested and charged for murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.