Rajkot: What began as an investigation into an assault by an employer after a man asked for unpaid wages for the past four months, may lead to murder charges after a 50-year-old Nepalese worker died at Rajkot Civil Hospital on Thursday.Gumansingh Thakur had been employed for several years as a waiter and kitchen assistant at Ronak Hotel near Mansarovar Park, Aji Dam Chowkdi.According to police, around 12.30am on July 22, Thakur asked to be paid his dues for the past four months. The proprietor of the establishment, Karan Mahatra, flew into a rage and summoned an employee, Deepak, and two unidentified accomplices.The group allegedly launched a vicious attack on Thakur, striking him repeatedly with sticks, kicks and punches. They allegedly threatened him with severe consequences should he ever ask for his wages again.After the assault, Thakur was taken to Rajkot Civil Hospital in critical condition. Aji Dam police initially filed a complaint on July 24, 2026, charging Mahatra and the three others with assault and criminal intimidation.Aji Dam police station inspector Hareshkumar Patel said all four were arrested, presented in court and subsequently released on bail.After Thakur’s death at the hospital on Thursday, authorities conducted a forensic postmortem to determine the cause of death.“A decision on adding murder charges will be taken after receiving the official forensic postmortem report,” Patel stated, noting that if murder charges are applied, law enforcement will seek judicial authorization to revoke bail and re-arrest the four suspects.Thakur is survived by a son and daughter. He had been working as a labourer and hotel worker in Rajkot to support them.
