Police link Mandsaur double murder-suicide to old business dispute as final report nears submission

Police in Mandsaur are preparing to close the case of a double murder-suicide that left a jeweller, his wife, and the accused dead, with investigators tracing the violence to a long-standing financial dispute between the two businessmen.

Tea And Biscuits Before The Attack

According to police, the accused, Vikas Soni, a jewellery trader from Nimbahera in Rajasthan, arrived at the Goal Chouraha residence of jeweller Dilip Jain on a scooter on the evening of December 31, 2025. Soni reportedly waited inside for around 12 minutes before Jain returned home. The two men, along with Jain's wife Rekha Jain, sat together for tea and snacks, after which Rekha Jain went upstairs while the men continued talking.

Old Dispute Turns Violent

Officials said the conversation, which revolved around a pending business transaction, turned heated after about half an hour. A scuffle broke out, during which Soni allegedly pulled out a country-made pistol that failed to fire. He then pulled out a knife concealed in his sock and attacked Jain, stabbing him more than 11 times.

Wife Stabbed While Trying To Intervene

Hearing the commotion, Rekha Jain rushed downstairs and attempted to save her husband, but was also attacked, sustaining over 30 stab wounds, police said. Both victims collapsed at the scene as the house turned into what officials described as a scene of bloodshed.

Accused Shot Himself In The Head

After the attack, Soni reportedly sat on a sofa and shot himself in the right temple. The bullet exited through his skull and was found lodged in the ceiling. All three deaths were recorded within minutes inside the same house, police said.

Forensic Probe Confirms Sequence Of Events

A nearly five-month investigation by Mandsaur's City Kotwali police included FSL analysis, ballistic testing, and CCTV review. Officials said the pistol, knife, and bullet recovered from the scene matched forensic evidence, and the trajectory of the self-inflicted gunshot confirmed it was fired at the spot where Soni's body was found. Items recovered included the pistol, knife, live cartridges, gold bangles, and cash — ruling out robbery as a motive, according to police.

No Third Person Involved, Say Police

Investigators said footage from around eight CCTV cameras installed in and around the house showed only Soni's movements at the time of the incident, with no entry or presence of any third person recorded. Based on this, police concluded there was no involvement of anyone else in the case.

Case Filed Under Murder, Arms Act

The case was registered under murder and Arms Act provisions following a complaint by Manav Jain, a relative of the victims. Sources familiar with the matter said the unresolved financial transaction between Soni and Jain had been a point of contention for a long time, though no conclusive written record of the disputed amount could be established during the investigation.

Two Families Left Devastated

The Jain couple are survived by two children, while Soni also leaves behind two young children, police said. With the final report expected to be submitted to the Superintendent of Police soon, the case is set to be closed as a murder-suicide with no third-party involvement.