Bride Killed by Fiancé One Hour Before Wedding Following Dispute Over Saree in Gujarat

Victim Soni Himmat Rathod and accused Sajan Baraiya.

In a tragic incident in Gujarat's Bhavnagar city, a woman was allegedly murdered by her fiancé just an hour before their scheduled wedding ceremony on Saturday, according to police reports.

The fatal altercation occurred near Tekri Chowk in the Prabhudas Lake area, stemming from a dispute over a saree and financial matters between the soon-to-be-married couple.

Police investigations revealed that the accused, Sajan Baraiya, and the victim, Soni Himmat Rathod, had been cohabitating for approximately 12-18 months. Their engagement had been formalized and most wedding rituals completed, with the marriage ceremony planned for Saturday evening.

Unfortunately, just sixty minutes before the wedding was to commence, a heated argument erupted between them regarding a saree and money matters. In a moment of extreme anger, Sajan struck Soni with an iron pipe and violently smashed her head against the wall.

Before fleeing the scene, the accused also damaged property within their residence. Upon receiving notification of the incident, law enforcement personnel promptly arrived to assess the situation.

Deputy Superintendent of Police RR Singhal stated, "The couple had been living together despite family objections for between one year and 18 months. Their wedding was scheduled for yesterday. A dispute arose between them concerning a saree and financial issues."

"During the escalating argument, Sajan assaulted Soni with an iron pipe. He also forcefully struck her head against the wall, causing fatal injuries at the scene. The victim's remains have been sent for post-mortem examination, and a thorough investigation is currently in progress," he further explained.

Sources indicate that the accused had also engaged in a confrontation with a neighbor earlier on Saturday, resulting in a police complaint being filed against him.

A separate complaint has now been registered regarding the murder case.

(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)