Kidnap and murder case accused killed in encounter

Rajkot, Jan 17 (UNI) Jaydev Gadhvi, one of the three accused in abduction and murder of Rajkot businessman Vijay Kotak, was killed in a police encounter near Wakaner boundary on Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway late last night.

According to police, the main accused Jaydev Gadhvi was residing at Mavdi plot area here and was brought for further interrogation.

While returning to Surendranagar around 0030 hrs, the accused said he wanted to attend a nature's call. The vehicle halted near the Wankaner boundary, but he reportedly picked up the pistol from Police Sub-Inspector K M Jadeja and shot several rounds, injuring the PSI and a constable. The police in retaliation fired 13 rounds of bullets at Jaydev who fell down and was removed to Rajkot Civil Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The injured PSI K M Jadeja, who received a shoulder injury and police constable Pradumansinh Zala with leg injury were also brought to the civil hospital here, police said.

Three accused - Jaydev Gadhvi, Satish Gadhvi and Praveen Gadhvi -- had been arrested on late night of January 13 by Ahmedabad Police near Vadodra for kidnapping and murdering a hardware merchant Vijay Kotak, who was abducted on January 10 from here and was killed by the accused on January 12. The accused had demanded a ransom of Rs two crore and had later settled the demand for Rs 75 lakh, police sources said.

Later, they had been produced in a court on January 15, by the Surendranagar police at Muli town. A 14-day remand was sought, but the court had granted eight days remand upto January 22.

UNI