Ahmedabad: A property dispute reportedly worth Rs 25 crore is believed to have triggered the contract killing of Himmat Rudani, whose body was found in the trunk of his Mercedes under the Viratnagar flyover on Saturday night. Police have arrested three individuals, including a minor, in connection with the murder.

It has come to light that Rudani’s former business partner, Mansukh Lakhani from Bapunagar, allegedly first offered Rs 50,000 to have Rudani “beaten and injured.” When that plan allegedly failed, Lakhani is said to have increased the offer to Rs 1 crore and promised a house to the main accused, Himanshu Rathod, to carry out the murder. Lakhani, however, denies this claim, stating he only offered Rs 50,000.

According to police, contrary to the initial belief that the dispute was related to the withdrawal of Rs 1.5 crore, the investigation suggests that the conflict centered around control of a commercial complex valued at Rs 25 crore.

Police said Rathod, who had previously worked as Lakhani’s office security guard, was roped in last year to rough up Rudani. He confessed that he was initially offered Rs 50,000 to assault Rudani. When tensions escalated this year, Lakhani allegedly offered Rs 1 crore and a house if Rudani was killed. Rathod also admitted to involving two accomplices, Pappu Meghwal from Rajasthan and a minor, to execute the plan. One of the accomplices reportedly filmed the murder and sent the footage to Lakhani, which helped authorities strengthen the case.

Police believe Rudani was attacked earlier in Sardar Dham, Nikol, before his body was moved to the Mercedes to mislead investigators. CCTV footage showed the killers fleeing on a bike, which was confirmed to belong to Rathod. With the help of Rajasthan police, Rathod, Meghwal, and the minor were arrested near Sirohi. On Monday, Rathod and Meghwal were produced in court, where police were granted a five-day remand. DeshGujarat