Ahmedabad police have begun systematically tracking reports of alleged “ghost sightings” and paranormal stories after investigators cracked two murder cases in six months using leads linked to such claims.
Officials from the city crime branch said unusual stories circulating in neighbourhoods may sometimes point towards hidden crimes, missing persons or suspects struggling with guilt.
Two Murder Cases Solved Through Eerie Leads
In one case from Sarkhej, a man was allegedly murdered in November last year and buried beneath the kitchen platform of his own home.
In another case from Vatva, police recovered the remains of a woman from a house in Qutubnagar nearly 34 years after she was allegedly murdered.
According to senior crime branch officers, both investigations gained momentum after locals began discussing ghostly occurrences connected to the properties.
Police Activate Informer Networks
Crime branch officials said instructions have now been issued to officers across Ahmedabad to monitor reports involving apparitions, haunted houses or occult-related claims.
“We have instructed cops to activate their informer network. If a person is seeing a ghost or seeking occult intervention, it could be due to guilt or suspected involvement in or knowledge of an untoward incident in the past,” a senior officer said.
The officer clarified that investigators are not treating paranormal claims as supernatural evidence, but rather as behavioural indicators that may uncover concealed crimes.
‘No Input Should Be Treated as Frivolous’
Police stressed that the approach remains rooted in conventional investigation methods and evidence collection.
“The point is that no input should be treated as petty or frivolous. We are open to inquiring into any such ghost stories,” the officer added.
Sarkhej Murder Cracked After ‘Haunted House’ Rumours
The Sarkhej case came to light after the crime branch received information that the main accused, Imran Vaghela, had allegedly been telling people he was haunted by the ghost of the deceased, Mohammed Ansari.
Police said Vaghela was reportedly involved in a relationship with Ansari’s wife, Ruby, and was mentally disturbed after the murder.
Locals had reportedly begun referring to the locked house as a “Bhoot Bangla” or haunted house.
Investigators later planted a cleric to gain the accused’s confidence and eventually secured information leading to the discovery of Ansari’s body buried under the kitchen platform.
34-Year-Old Murder Unearthed in Vatva
In the second case, police excavated a property in Qutubnagar, Vatva, after receiving a tip-off linked to paranormal rumours surrounding the house.
The remains were identified as those of Farzana Radhanpuri, who was allegedly murdered over three decades ago.
Police arrested her husband, Shamsuddin Khedawala, and his elder brother, Iqbal Khedawala, on charges including murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
