Police, along with a magistrate and other witnesses, dug up the place to recover the remains and called in forensic experts to check whether it was Solanki’s body. The weapons used by the accused, all in the age group of 20-25 years, to kill Solanki were also found by the police from Vankarvas where they had been hidden. They include a butcher’s knife (used by Mirza), a wooden stick (Ansari), a hockey stick (Mehboobhusain) and a sword (Sheikh).

Circumstantial evidence was taken into consideration and DNA samples taken from blood found on the weapons were matched with Solanki’s DNA. Forensic tests had earlier been conducted to prove that the body was Solanki. Public Prosecutor K L Trivedi said: ‘‘Samples from bone marrow were taken so that DNA tests could be conducted. It was found that Solanki’s family members’ DNA matched the DNA samples. Trivedi said, ‘‘The FSL report also made it clear that acid and salt were used to speed up decomposition of the body. The court also considered corroborative evidences.’’

A witness, Vishwanath Kantilal Shrimali, who had seen the four accused dragging Solanki away, recognised them in court. Three other witnesses who turned hostile will be heard on perjury charges on June 14. Trivedi said the court took cognisance of the SC order in the Best Bakery case.