Surat: A fatal road accident in March in Surat district turned out to be murder, with investigators finding that a contract killing was arranged for Rs 1 lakh during Ramadan.Local crime branch of Surat rural police arrested Abdul Raheman Shaikh (42), a resident of Baleshwar in Surat district, and Soyeb Ghanchi (35), originally from Sarkhej in Ahmedabad, for their alleged involvement in the murder on Thursday.Sajid Qureshi (43), a resident of Bardoli, died on March 15, 2026, after being run over near Vanesa village. Surat rural police first registered an unnatural death, as Qureshi appeared to have been crushed by a vehicle while he was riding a moped.Local crime branch later received information indicating the involvement of suspects, prompting officers to verify their backgrounds and links to the victim. The investigation found that Shaikh is a cousin of Qureshi’s wife. Police said Qureshi suspected his wife had a relationship with Shaikh and had been harassing Shaikh repeatedly over the issue.“Qureshi harassed Shaikh adopting different ways as he suspected his wife has relationship with him. Fed up of the harassment, Shaikh planned the murder and hired Ghanchi,” superintendent of police Rajesh Gadhiya said.Police said Ghanchi was living as a tenant in a house owned by Shaikh at the time of the crime. Investigators said the accused bought a pickup van from Kadi and prepared for the attack.According to police, Shaikh, who was in South Africa, called Qureshi to Bardoli to collect money. He allegedly shared Qureshi’s location with Ghanchi, who used it to track and chase the victim. When Qureshi stopped on the way, Ghanchi knocked him down and then crushed him under the pickup van and fled.
