Bihar Father Murder: A Drishyam-Inspired Crime
A shocking incident has come to light from Samastipur district, Bihar, where a 26-year-old man, Shiv Shankar, stands accused of murdering his 50-year-old father, Raghuveer Sahni. The alleged crime, which occurred on the night of July 26, reportedly took inspiration from the recently released Bollywood crime thriller Drishyam 3.
The Alleged Plot to Recreate a Thriller
Police reports indicate that Shiv Shankar traveled nearly 2,000 kilometers from Surat, Gujarat, where he resided with his wife, to his native Darwa village in Samastipur. Before embarking on his journey, he allegedly switched off his mobile phone to avoid creating a digital trail, a tactic central to the plot of the Drishyam film series. Upon reaching his village, he is accused of hacking his sleeping father to death with an axe before fleeing back to Surat.
Family Dispute and the Journey to Murder
Investigators revealed that Shiv Shankar had a strained relationship with his father, Raghuveer Sahni. The two had previously argued over the sale of family land, and Raghuveer allegedly verbally abused his son and daughter-in-law. These family disputes are believed to have motivated Shiv Shankar to plan the murder.
The planning, according to police, intensified after Shiv Shankar watched Drishyam 3 in a Surat theater. He then meticulously plotted his return to Bihar. His journey involved traveling to Patna, then Hajipur, where he boarded a train to Patori station. From Patori, he took an autorickshaw and walked approximately four kilometers to reach his village around midnight, entering through a back door.
The Unraveling: A Crucial Phone Call
After allegedly committing the murder with an axe found inside the house, Shiv Shankar left the weapon behind and returned towards Patori railway station. His elaborate plan began to unravel when he briefly switched on his mobile phone at Patori station to call his wife, then promptly switched it off again.
Police, already suspicious due to Shiv Shankar's absence at his father's funeral, used technical surveillance. They discovered his mobile phone's activity near Patori station on the night of the murder and its subsequent reappearance in Surat approximately 36 hours later. Call records confirmed his conversation with his wife from Patori, providing a crucial lead for the investigation.
Investigation and Arrest
Patori DSP BK Meghavi confirmed that the phone activity was instrumental in tracing Shiv Shankar. He was subsequently located and arrested in Surat. During questioning, Shiv Shankar allegedly confessed to planning the murder after watching Drishyam and was later sent to jail. A forensic science laboratory team examined the crime scene, and the forensic investigation suggested the killer was someone known to the victim, further narrowing the police's focus.
The 'Drishyam' Connection
The Drishyam film franchise, starring Ajay Devgn, is known for its intricate plots where the protagonist, Vijay Salgaonkar, meticulously creates false alibis and manipulates timelines to protect his family from law enforcement after a crime. The alleged inspiration drawn by Shiv Shankar highlights the potential impact of fictional narratives on real-life actions, particularly in cases where individuals seek to emulate complex criminal schemes depicted on screen.