Digant had filed a complaint with the Kalol taluka police under sections 135/17 and 326, 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and section 3(2)(5) of the Atrocities Act. Investigation was handed over to RG Bhavsar under supervision of Virendrasinh Yadav. Three teams were formed for probe and search for the attackers’ bike was initiated.

The probe revealed several discrepancies in the way the incident was alleged to have unfolded. No blood or blood spots were found during forensic reconstruction of the scene. Neither the clothes worn by the victim nor CCTV footage was consistent with the description of the crime. A shop-owner in the vicinity denied that such an incident ever took place.

Interrogation of the victim revealed a different story. Maheria admitted that he and two friends of his – both minors – had purchased the blade and that they had caused the injury. He later contacted the media for publicity. Maheria’s parents as well as the parents of the minors admitted that the complaint was falsified. He also admitted that several NGOs visiting the village inspired him to fake the entire story.