Double murder accused tantrik nabbed

SURAT: Arvind Rathod, a tantrik, accused in the double murder case of April 1, was arrested exactly a month after the crime from near Kim crossroad by Mandvi police on Tuesday. The accused was on the run after the murder of Dharmesh Parmar, 35, a powerloom owner, and Mahesh Godhani, 42, a tuition teacher. He had some monetary dispute with the victims and hence had them killed by his aides Ramsing Vasava, a forester, Chiman Chaudhary, a Mandvi resident, and Vinod, who have since been arrested.
Rathod claimed to have been blessed with supernatural powers and was into illegal medical services that he operated from his house at Kadod village near Bardoli for the past four years. Police believe that Rathod was also a money lender. He had borrowed huge amounts from the victims and when he failed to repay them, he got the two killed.
Deceased Parmar and Godhani, both residents of Adajan area in Surat, used to go to meet Radhod at Kadod village. Family members of the victims informed police that the two were taking some medication from Rathod.
On April 1, Parmar and Godhani had gone to Kadod. Parmar took a friend's car while Godhani went on his motorcycle. When the duo did not return home till late night, their family members informed police.
Parmar's body was found from Kadavali village near Jaghadiya in Narmad district on April 7.
Police investigation revealed that Parmar was murdered by Ramsing Vasava, a forester in Vyara division. Vasava was arrested and he named Rathod as the key planner.
Vasava informed police that Godhani was also killed and his body was thrown in a sugarcane farm on Kadod-Mandvi road at Jankhla Birama village. Mandvi police found Godhani's body too.
Rathod's residence was raided by the police but he escaped. Police arrested Vinod, aide of Vasava, for helping in the execution of murder and disposing of the bodies. Vasava and Vinod are followers of Rathod and were offered a Rs 5 lakh contract to murder the two, police investigation revealed.