In Gujarat’s Surat district, a shocking incident unfolded when a woman took the life of her two-and-a-half-year-old child and then deceitfully reported him as missing. The tragic turn of events led to a dramatic investigation that ultimately exposed the mother’s guilt.
The Incident
Nayana Mandavi, a construction site labourer in Surat’s Dindoli area, went to the nearby police station to report her son’s disappearance. Veer Mandavi, her young child, seemed to have vanished without a trace. The authorities promptly registered the case and commenced a thorough search operation, with the mother actively participating for three consecutive days. Despite their relentless efforts, the child remained elusive.
As the investigation progressed, suspicions turned toward Nayana, casting a dark cloud over her involvement. Eventually, the police arrested her as a prime suspect. The CCTV footage obtained from the construction site was scrutinized, but it failed to reveal any sign of the child leaving the premises. This led the investigators to conclude that the child had not departed from the site. The prolonged interrogation of Nayana yielded no satisfactory explanations regarding her child’s disappearance.
In their quest for answers, the police deployed a trained dog squad to assist in the search for the missing child. Unfortunately, no evidence could be found to suggest that the child had left the construction site alive. Meanwhile, Nayana pointed fingers at her lover, alleging that he had abducted her child. The authorities made contact with the lover, but his location was untraceable near Surat. He maintained his innocence, asserting that he had never visited the city.
The police faced a daunting challenge in determining the child’s whereabouts since all evidence indicated he had not left the construction site. Amidst mounting pressure, Nayana eventually confessed to the heart-wrenching crime of killing her son. However, when pressed for the location of the body, she initially provided false information, further complicating the investigation.
At first, Nayana claimed that she had buried the body in a pit. However, upon excavation, the search yielded no results. She then altered her account, stating that she had disposed of the body in a nearby pond. Yet, once again, the authorities came up empty-handed. Under relentless questioning, Nayana finally disclosed that she had discarded the lifeless body into a pit that was intended for the construction site’s toilet.
The grim discovery of the child’s remains was made at that location, confirming the horrific truth.
The movie ‘Drishyam’
The motive behind this heinous act left many perplexed. Nayana, originally from Jharkhand, revealed that she had a lover residing there. However, her lover made it clear that he would not accept her if she arrived with her child. Desperate for acceptance, Nayana made the unthinkable decision to take her child’s life. After committing the murder, she turned to the movie “Drishyam” as a guide on how to conceal the body, hoping to evade capture. In this film, there is a pivotal scene in which a body is disposed of, leaving the case unsolved and no arrests made.
The woman believed that by emulating the film’s method, she would successfully elude the grasp of the authorities, allowing her to reunite with her lover in Jharkhand.
The tragic story of Nayana Mandavi serves as a chilling reminder of the depths of desperation some individuals can sink to in pursuit of their desires. The loss of an innocent child’s life and the ensuing investigation has shaken the community and highlighted the need for greater awareness and support for those facing emotional distress or difficult circumstances.
