- By Shibra Arshad
- Fri, 21 Nov 2025 02:43 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Gujarat forest official has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife and two children. The accused, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Shailesh Khambhla (39), was taken into custody on Monday after the bodies of his family were recovered from a six-foot deep pit near their official residence.
Police sources revealed that Khambhla was in an extramarital relationship with a female forest department employee. Investigators are questioning the woman to determine whether she had any role in the crime.
According to the police, the accused befriended a woman forest worker in 2022. Their friendship soon turned into an affair. It is, however, unclear whether the woman was involved in the crime.
Transfer, Visit and Sudden Disappearance
Khambhla had recently been transferred to Bhavnagar. His 42-year-old wife Nayna and their 13-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, who lived in Surat, had come to Bhavnagar on a short holiday visit. Within hours of their arrival, the three went missing, triggering panic in the family and a massive search operation.
Decomposed Bodies Found
On Sunday, the decomposed bodies of Nayna and the two children were discovered buried in a pit near the Forest Colony on Talaja Road. Khambhla was arrested the very next day.
A senior police officer said the ACF became the prime suspect because he showed no concern over his missing family during questioning and gave contradictory statements. Further investigation is underway.