Police in Rajgarh district have exposed a bizarre case in which a local BJP leader’s son staged his own death to escape heavy debts.
The accused, Vishal Soni, son of BJP leader Mahesh Soni, was under mounting pressure to repay a loan of ₹1.40 crore. Instead of clearing his dues, Vishal allegedly abandoned his car near the Kalisindh River earlier this month to give the impression that he had drowned. His disappearance triggered a massive search operation, with police, divers, and disaster response teams combing a 20-kilometer stretch of the river for more than 10 days.
Authorities initially believed Vishal had met with an accident. However, suspicions grew when no body was found. A detailed probe revealed that he had fled to Maharashtra, where he was hiding while his family and associates claimed he was missing.
When tracked down and questioned, Vishal admitted to faking his death. His plan, according to investigators, was to use the staged accident to avoid repayment or delay legal action from banks and financiers. Police are now examining whether anyone helped him in carrying out the elaborate plan.
The arrest has shocked locals, not only because of the scale of the deception but also due to the misuse of government resources in the river search. Officials have said the operation cost valuable time and manpower that could have been avoided if the truth had surfaced earlier.
Vishal Soni has been brought back to Rajgarh, where further interrogation is underway. The case highlights the rising incidents of loan fraud in smaller towns and raises questions on how financial disputes are driving people to extreme measures.
