A 34-year-old murder case in Ahmedabad has been unearthed after police followed an unusual lead linked to superstition and occult practices in the Vatva area.
The breakthrough came when reports of alleged ghost sightings and rituals in a deserted house in Qutubnagar drew the attention of the city crime branch. The house, long believed by locals to be a “bhoot bangla,” became the focus of investigation after family members of suspects spoke of apparitions and misfortune.
Acting on these inputs, police excavated a septic tank at the abandoned property and recovered human remains, including teeth and bones. These have been sent for forensic examination.
Investigators believe the remains belong to a woman identified as Farzana Radhanpuri, who was allegedly murdered between July and August 1992. Originally from Mumbai, she was reportedly killed following a dispute with her boyfriend, Shamsuddin Khedawala, over property rights.
According to police, the argument escalated into violence, and Khedawala, along with accomplices, allegedly strangled her inside the house of another associate. The accused then buried the body inside a septic tank after having it dug up and sealed with cement.
Over the years, several individuals connected to the case—including the main accused—died, further fuelling local beliefs that the house was haunted. The growing fear reportedly led some family members to turn to occult rituals in an attempt to “calm” the spirit.
Police said these activities ultimately exposed crucial information. Surveillance and intelligence gathering confirmed that a murder had taken place at the site decades ago, prompting authorities to launch a focused operation.
“The breakthrough followed unusual developments within the suspects’ family, including recurring hallucinations and psychological distress linked to the deceased. During attempts to seek relief through occult practices, key information emerged,” a senior crime branch officer said.
The discovery has led to the reopening of the decades-old case, with investigators now working to confirm identities and reconstruct events through forensic analysis.
