Ahmedabad, April 25: A 55-year-old woman with a history of at least nine criminal cases has been arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch for allegedly drugging elderly residents with sedative-laced buttermilk and robbing them. The accused, identified as Lataben — also known as Gulab and Lakadi Chauhan — was apprehended from the Shahpur area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, after her latest victim, 81-year-old Abdulbhai Sipai, died during medical treatment, prompting police to upgrade the charge to culpable homicide.

How the Crime Unfolded

The incident was initially reported in the Dariapur area of Ahmedabad, where Lataben allegedly gained entry into the residence of an elderly couple by offering to cook meals or fetch groceries for them. Investigators say she deliberately targeted elderly individuals or couples living alone, exploiting their vulnerability and isolation to build trust.

Once inside, she allegedly served the couple buttermilk laced with sedative substances. After both victims lost consciousness, she fled the scene with approximately Rs 4,000 in cash — a modest sum that underscores how these crimes were driven by opportunism and a pattern of predatory behaviour rather than high-value theft planning.

"Due to the heavy dosage of the substance administered, Abdulbhai's condition deteriorated, and he died during treatment," a Crime Branch official stated. Following the death, the case was formally converted from theft to a culpable homicide charge.

Modus Operandi: A Calculated Pattern of Exploitation

Police say Lataben followed a consistent and calculated modus operandi across multiple incidents spanning several Ahmedabad neighbourhoods. She would identify elderly persons living alone, approach them under the guise of offering domestic help, and then administer drugged food or beverages to render them unconscious before committing theft.

"She would gain their trust by offering help with meals, and then administer drugged food items to render them unconscious before committing theft," the Crime Branch official explained. The accused's ability to present herself as a helpful stranger made her particularly dangerous to the elderly demographic, who are often socially isolated and more trusting of unsolicited assistance.

This method — sometimes referred to as 'drug and rob' or sedative-based theft — has been documented across multiple Indian cities, with perpetrators often targeting senior citizens in urban areas where nuclear family structures leave the elderly without daily supervision or support.

Arrest: CCTV and Human Intelligence Led Police to Accused

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch traced Lataben through a combination of CCTV footage analysis and human intelligence inputs. Officials cross-referenced her profile with records of past offenders known to operate with similar methods in the city.

"Based on specific inputs and verification of past offenders with similar modus operandi, a raid was conducted in the Shahpur area, where the accused was apprehended from her residence," the official confirmed. The arrest reflects the Crime Branch's use of data-driven policing to identify repeat offenders.

Police records reveal that Lataben has a criminal history spanning at least nine registered offences across multiple police stations in Ahmedabad, including Khadia, Kalupur, Shahpur, Ghatlodia, Vejalpur, Madhupura, and Vadaj. Her prior cases involve theft, house-breaking, and gambling.

Legal Charges Filed Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023

A formal case has been registered at Dariapur Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 105, 123, 329(2), and 303(2). Section 105 relates to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while the other sections cover administering poison or stupefying substances with intent to commit an offence.

The application of the BNS, 2023 — India's newly enacted criminal code that replaced the Indian Penal Code — marks one of its early high-profile applications in Gujarat in a case involving sedative-based predatory crime against senior citizens.

Broader Concern: Elderly Safety in Urban India

This case highlights a deeply troubling pattern of crimes targeting senior citizens living alone in Indian cities. With rapid urbanisation breaking down joint family systems, millions of elderly Indians now live independently — often without daily check-ins from family members, making them prime targets for predatory criminals like Lataben.

This is not an isolated incident. Across cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, cases of drug-assisted robbery targeting the elderly have been reported with increasing frequency over the past decade. Experts and senior citizen welfare organisations have repeatedly called for dedicated neighbourhood watch programmes, police outreach to isolated elderly residents, and stricter sentencing for crimes targeting vulnerable populations.

Police have urged citizens — particularly senior residents — to remain vigilant and avoid accepting food, beverages, or assistance from unknown individuals. Further investigation into the full extent of Lataben's criminal activities is currently underway, and additional charges or victims may emerge as the probe deepens.