On March 2, 2025, Rajkumar Jat and his father Ratanlal Shankarlal Jat became embroiled in an altercation with Ganesh Jadeja and 7-10 others near the former MLA's bungalow in Gondal. Following this incident, Rajkumar returned to the bungalow later that night and subsequently disappeared.
Two days later, on March 4, 2025, an unidentified body was discovered critically injured near Targhadiya Bridge along the Rajkot-Ahmedabad Highway. By 3:42 PM that day, the person was declared dead at Rajkot Government Hospital. On March 9, the family identified the body as Rajkumar Jat.
Conflicting Narratives
Police Conclusion
Authorities concluded Rajkumar died after being struck by a private luxury bus between 2:15 and 2:30 AM on March 4. Police cited CCTV footage showing Rajkumar leaving home around 2 AM on March 3, reaching Ramdham Ashram that evening, and leaving around 2 AM on March 4.
A dumper driver reported seeing a body on the road at 2:33 AM, and forensic experts examined the bus. The bus driver was arrested after initially claiming to his employer he had hit an antelope.
Family's Allegation
Rajkumar's father filed a complaint directly accusing Ganesh Jadeja and his associates of assault. He rejected the accident theory, pointing to 42 injuries on his son's body as evidence of prior assault and suggesting CCTV footage had been tampered with.
Ratanlal alleged that when he informed the local Police Inspector about the incident and mentioned Jayrajsinh Jadeja's name, he received no satisfactory response, raising questions about potential bias.
The controversy escalated with the involvement of Rajasthan MP Hanuman Beniwal and PHED Minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary, both demanding a CBI probe. Choudhary highlighted that an FIR wasn't registered until 16 days after the incident.
"Forty-two injuries don't come from one collision. My son was beaten before he died. This was no accident."
— Ratanlal Jat, father of Rajkumar
