Ratlam triple murder case exposed shocking criminal conspiracy:Psycho killer befriended families before looting homes and brutally murdering victims

In Part 1 of the Madhya Pradesh Crime Files series, readers learned how panic spread across Ratlam on the morning of November 26, 2020, when three members of a family were found murdered inside their flat. Salon owner Govindram Solanki, his wife Sharda, and their 20-year-old daughter Divya had all been shot dead. The murders took place on Dev Deepawali night, when the sound of firecrackers drowned out gunshots. Household items were scattered, and the family’s scooter was missing. Police initially suspected robbery, but investigators soon realized they were dealing with a far more dangerous criminal mind. CCTV footage changed the investigation After examining nearly 20,000 mobile numbers and scanning more than 200 CCTV camera recordings, police identified two suspicious young men. One of them turned out to be Dilip Deval, a notorious criminal involved in multiple cases of murder, kidnapping, and robbery. Originally from Dahod in Gujarat, Dilip had earlier been sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case. After coming out on parole, he absconded and began living in Ratlam under fake identities using forged Aadhaar cards. Police records described him as highly manipulative and extremely violent. How the Solanki family became targets During the COVID-19 lockdown, Dilip began visiting Govindram Solanki’s home frequently, as Govindram operated a salon service from his residence. Over time, Dilip gained the family’s trust. During these visits, he learned that Govindram had recently sold a piece of land and was expecting a large amount of money. Investigators said this information became the motive behind the robbery and murders. Dilip then involved three associates — Anurag Bobby, Golu, and Lala Bhabhor — in the conspiracy. Dev Deepawali night turned into bloodshed On the evening of November 25, 2020, around 7:30 pm, the four accused reached Rajiv Nagar in Ratlam. Golu stayed outside to keep watch while Dilip, Anurag, and Lala entered the house. At the time, Sharda Solanki was watching television inside a room. Dilip allegedly shot her in the head immediately after entering. Hearing the gunshot, Divya rushed out of her room. Before she could understand what was happening, she too was shot dead. The accused then began searching the house for cash and jewelry. Around 9 pm, Govindram returned home from his salon. As soon as he stepped inside, Dilip opened fire on him as well. Killers escaped on scooter, but cameras captured everything After the murders, the accused fled with cash and jewelry. They also took the keys to Divya’s scooter. A short distance away, Golu waited with the scooter running. The accused changed their clothes and escaped through different routes, believing they had left no evidence behind. However, CCTV cameras installed in the locality had recorded their movements. Police strategically released only photographs of the scooter instead of revealing the suspects’ faces. Believing they were safe, the accused became careless. Anurag even returned to the Gandhi Nagar area days later. Police, who were already monitoring the locality, detained him for questioning. During interrogation, he reportedly revealed the entire conspiracy and identified Dilip Deval as the mastermind. Police later arrested Golu and Lala from Dahod. Another murder revealed the ‘psycho killer’ pattern During interrogation, investigators discovered that Dilip was not only linked to the Ratlam triple murder case. He was also accused in the murder of Dr. Premkunwar Sisodia, who was killed in Ratlam’s Kasturba Nagar area on June 18, 2020. According to police, Dilip had befriended a woman named Vishala Solanki, who had sold her school for nearly Rs 70 lakh. Dr. Premkunwar was her friend. Pretending to look for a house, Dilip came in contact with them and learned about the valuables kept inside the home. He later planned another robbery with his associates, during which Dr. Premkunwar was murdered and valuables worth lakhs were looted. At the time, police had failed to solve the case. He gained trust before carrying out murders Investigators said Dilip followed a similar pattern in most crimes. He would first befriend people, frequently visit their homes, gather information about their financial condition, and then plan robberies. If he felt someone could identify him later, he would kill them without hesitation. Police investigation also revealed that Dilip used to watch robbery and murder videos on his mobile phone and allegedly planned crimes in a similar manner. His targets were often small families, women living alone, or people he believed were vulnerable. By 2020, police had linked him to six murders. This led investigators to describe him as a “psycho killer.” Final encounter with police On December 3, 2020, police received information that Dilip had been spotted near the Khachrod Road area. Under the supervision of then Ratlam SP Gaurav Tiwari, police teams surrounded the area after learning Dilip was heading toward a rented house. As soon as Dilip saw the police, he allegedly opened fire using a revolver, triggering panic in the locality. Two sub-inspectors and three other police personnel were injured during the exchange of fire. Police retaliated, and after a brief encounter, Dilip Deval was shot dead. Trial still ongoing Even after Dilip’s death, the legal proceedings in the Ratlam triple murder case are still underway. The court trial against co-accused Lala and Golu continues, and the final verdict is yet to be delivered. Their guilt or innocence will ultimately be decided through the judicial process.