Ahmedabad: A city sessions court has sentenced notorious criminal Montu Gandhi, popularly known as Montu Namdar, to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of BJP worker Rakesh Mehta, who was killed in June 2022 in Ahmedabad’s Khadia area. Three others involved in the killing — Vishv Rami, Jayraj Desai and Sunil Bajaniya — have also been awarded life terms along with a fine of ₹35,000 each.
The verdict was delivered after the prosecution successfully established that the killing was a result of a pre-planned conspiracy linked to a long-standing property dispute. According to the case details, the victim Rakesh Mehta had served as a witness to a will distribution, which excluded Namdar’s wife from inheritance rights, resulting in growing hostility against Mehta.
On the day of the crime, Mehta was attacked in broad daylight inside Hajira ni Pol of Khadia, where the accused used baseball bats to brutally assault him, leading to his death. The court observed that the manner of killing in a public area was intended to spread fear among citizens. Judge B. B. Jadav, while pronouncing the sentence, remarked that such acts of violence were unacceptable in a civilised society and must be punished strongly to maintain public safety.
The incident shocked the old city areas, as Namdar was already known to police circles for his criminal background and activities, including gambling rackets. He had earlier managed to evade custody by jumping bail in 2024 before being rearrested. His conviction marks a significant blow to criminal dominance in the historic Khadia zone.
The sentencing brings closure to a politically sensitive case linked to a ruling party worker’s murder. The court’s order also underlines that the murder was motivated by revenge and was executed with full intent to kill.
With this judgment, the court has sent out a strong message that no individual, regardless of influence or fear they hold over neighbourhoods, will be spared for committing heinous crimes.
