By Sagaya Fernando | September 10, 2026
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, INDIA: A father and son have been arrested in Ahmedabad for allegedly murdering a 22-year-old woman with a hammer and attempting to conceal the killing by staging it as a hit-and-run road accident, police said.
The victim, identified as Sofia Farooq, worked as a receptionist at a hospital in Ahmedabad. Police identified the accused as her father, Mohammed Farooq Nawabkhan, 56, and her brother, Habil Farooq, 38.
Sofia suffered serious injuries on the night of August 12 and was taken to Sola Civil Hospital, where she died the following day. What initially appeared to be a road accident later developed into a murder investigation after police found discrepancies in the family's account and evidence from the scene.
Death initially reported as hit-and-run
According to police, Habil initially claimed that he and Sofia were travelling on a motorcycle near the Gheljipura area when an unidentified speeding vehicle struck them from behind.
Habil told authorities that the impact caused Sofia, who was riding pillion, to suffer severe injuries, while he sustained bruises. The motorcycle was also found damaged, supporting the initial appearance of a road crash.
Traffic police responded to the incident and began investigating it as a suspected hit-and-run case.
However, investigators subsequently found inconsistencies in Habil's account. Police said evidence gathered from the location did not support the claim that another vehicle had collided with the motorcycle.
CCTV footage examined during the investigation also reportedly failed to establish the presence of the unidentified vehicle described by Habil.
As investigators scrutinised the circumstances surrounding Sofia's death, suspicion increasingly turned towards her father and brother.
Police allege murder was planned in advance
According to police, the alleged motive emerged during the investigation.
Investigators said a video showing Sofia with a male friend had circulated online around three months before her death. Her father and brother allegedly objected to the video and to her interactions with other men.
Police allege the two subsequently developed resentment towards Sofia and planned to kill her, purportedly over concerns about the family's reputation in their community.
The allegations have been described by authorities as a suspected case of an so-called “honour killing”.
Hammer allegedly concealed before journey
Police allege that on the night of August 12, Farooq and Habil took Sofia with them on a motorcycle.
According to investigators, Habil had allegedly concealed an iron hammer inside his trousers before setting out.
The three travelled towards an isolated stretch near Gheljipura village in Sarkhej, where Habil allegedly diverted the motorcycle onto a secluded dirt road.
Police allege that once they reached the isolated location, Habil attacked Sofia with the hammer, striking her on the head three times while his father assisted him.
Investigators believe Sofia was critically injured in the assault.
Alleged attempt to create fake accident scene
Police allege that after attacking Sofia, the father and son moved her from the isolated location and brought her back towards a public road.
Investigators said they then allegedly damaged the motorcycle to make it appear that it had been involved in a high-speed collision.
Habil is also accused of creating injuries on himself to strengthen the claim that he too had been involved in the supposed accident.
He subsequently approached authorities and allegedly gave a false account claiming that an unidentified vehicle had rammed their motorcycle from behind near the Gheljipura intersection.
Sofia was taken to Sola Civil Hospital with serious injuries and died on August 13.
Investigation exposes alleged staging
Although the case was initially investigated as a road accident, police continued examining the scene, CCTV footage, physical evidence and statements provided by Habil.
The alleged accident narrative gradually began to unravel.
Police said they could not find evidence supporting the involvement of another vehicle, while inconsistencies emerged between Habil's version of events and the evidence collected during the investigation.
Further questioning and investigation allegedly revealed that Sofia had been attacked before the accident scene was staged.
“The investigation revealed that the accident story was fabricated to mislead police,” M Division Traffic Police Inspector U.B. Dhakada said.
Police allege the father and son had planned the killing and subsequently filed a false account of a road accident in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Nearly a month after Sofia's death, investigators registered a murder case and arrested Farooq and Habil.
Both men are now in police custody and face murder charges. Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sofia's death and the alleged conspiracy is underway.
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