Woman and lover charged in husband’s staged road accident

By Sagaya Fernando | April 14, 2025

 

RAJKOT, Gujarat – A case initially treated as a tragic road accident in Jamnagar has been exposed as a cold-blooded murder, masterminded by a woman and her lover in a plot that took root over the course of a seven-year affair.

Ravi Patel, 30, a loan valuer and resident of Jamnagar, was killed on April 6 when an SUV struck his motorcycle near Vijarkhi Dam. The collision caused fatal head injuries, and he died before receiving medical help. What first appeared to be a tragic accident soon turned into a murder investigation, unravelling a dark tale of betrayal, infidelity, and a carefully orchestrated killing.

Jamnagar Deputy Superintendent of Police (Rural), R.B. Devdhara, revealed that the victim’s wife, Rinkal Patel, and her alleged lover, Akshay Dangariya, had conspired to kill Ravi. "We initially handled it as a case of accidental death," said Devdhara, "but suspicions grew when we received a tip about the on-going affair between Rinkal and Dangariya."

The turning point came when Ravi’s father, Dhirajlal Patel, confronted Rinkal. Under pressure, she broke down and admitted her role in her husband’s death—confirming the investigators’ doubts.

Ravi and Rinkal married in 2017 and were parents to a six-year-old son. However, behind closed doors, their marriage had deteriorated, as Rinkal continued an extramarital relationship with Dangariya, a freelance accountant. Two years ago, Ravi discovered the affair and informed his father. Despite repeated warnings and pleas from her family, Rinkal allegedly refused to end the relationship. Frequent arguments between the couple followed, culminating in a year-long plan to eliminate Ravi.

According to police, the opportunity came on April 6 when Rinkal noticed her husband leaving home on his motorcycle instead of his car. She immediately tipped off Dangariya, who then followed Ravi and deliberately crashed into him using his SUV, executing the planned murder under the guise of an accident.

Both Rinkal and Akshay Dangariya have been arrested and face charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. The investigation remains on-going as authorities gather more evidence to present in court.