Rajkot: More than a month after three members of a Rajkot family died by suicide, University Police have registered a case against a lender and unidentified accomplices for alleged abetment of suicide, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.The case stems from the deaths of Dilip Khakhar (72), his wife Smita Khakhar (65), and their son Nishit Khakhar (32), who poisoned themselves with Celphos at their house in Gangotri Park on Sadhu Vasvani Road on July 27. All three died at Rajkot Civil Hospital.Based on a complaint filed by Dilip Khakhar’s nephew, Bhavin Khakhar, police registered an FIR against Sandip Lakhtariya and others for abetment of suicide, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.The dispute arose from a financial transaction involving two gold rings pledged by Nishit with Poonawalla Finance. Lakhtariya allegedly accompanied Nishit and paid off the remainder of the loan against them. He then took the rings but rather than valuing them at the market rate, allegedly demanded an additional Rs 97,000 from Nishit.The complaint alleges that Nishit was confined at an office in Landmark Building near Astron Chowk, where he and his father were subjected to physical and mental harassment and threatened, saying Nishit would not be allowed to leave until the money was paid.Investigators cited a call recording recovered from Nishit’s mobile phone as a key piece of evidence. In the recording, Nishit is heard requesting his father to ask for more time or provide a promissory note. He says the lender had earlier waited for repayment in a transaction involving Rs 22 lakh, but was now insisting on immediate payment of just Rs 97,000. Nishit suggested switching off their phones and leaving by rickshaw, while his father said he lacked the money to leave the city and asked him to return home immediately.Police said the family poisoned themselves soon after Nishit returned home.University police station inspector K K Gohil said efforts are underway to trace Lakhtariya, whose mobile phone is switched off. Police teams are using technical surveillance and local intelligence inputs while gathering forensic evidence in the case.
