Ahmedabad: A Gujarati-origin realtor in Indiana, in the US, has been charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder after trying to orchestrate the death of his wife of 15 years.

The accused, 44-year-old Darshan R Soni, allegedly spent months crafting his plan and attempted to poison his wife first. When he failed at that, he allegedly hired an accomplice to enable him to carry out the murder at their Carmel home, all the while appearing to lead a normal life.The murder plan began to come apart when a tipster alerted Indianapolis police on May 10, saying Soni had approached his employee, Ken Cox, with a sinister proposal.

According to the tipster, Soni asked Cox, "How do you feel about committing more crimes, and do you know where I can get a silencer?" The investigators approached Cox, who agreed to cooperate with them.Cox told police that Soni intended to carry out the murder at his house in Carmel on May 16. Soni allegedly gave Cox $2,000 to purchase a silver Ford Escape that couldn't be traced back to him and mapped out how the murder would be staged.

He reportedly planned to slip in through the back door of his house, avoid the front door camera, and have Cox keep his phone in Indianapolis to fabricate an alibi.Carmel Police Sergeant Sean Brady, who took over the investigation, detailed the scheme in a sworn affidavit filed in Hamilton County Court. "This was not a spur-of-the-moment act. Soni was planning the murder for weeks if not months," Brady wrote.On May 12, Carmel police contacted Soni's wife to alert her.

She disclosed a series of suspicious incidents from late 2024 to early 2025. She recalled feeling ill and experiencing symptoms such as nerve pain and thyroid issues. "There were days when my morning smoothie tasted unusually salty," she told investigators. "One time, I even found white clumps in it. When I showed it to Darshan, he said it might be dishwashing detergent and advised her to wash her smoothie cup by hand.

"Cox, in his statement, confirmed that Soni spoke frequently about using poison, possibly Valium or thallium, which he ordered from India. Cox said Soni later told him, "It didn't test… the poison didn't work."During a recorded meeting on May 15, which police arranged with Cox's cooperation, Soni appeared conflicted. While claiming to have changed his mind, he also made remarks that suggested lingering intentions.

"Instead of not doing what I want to do, I'm just going to do what I want to do," he said cryptically, hinting at either continuing the murder plan or choosing divorce.Soni also discussed the mental pressure he was under, mentioning the cultural stigma around divorce. "There has never been a divorce in my family. I would be the first," he said, adding, "But I cannot go to prison either. That is worse than death."Police also found physical evidence that supported Cox's claims.

A wig was discovered in Soni's pickup truck, which Cox said he had given Soni to use as a disguise during the act. Authorities also confirmed that Soni was reading books on murder techniques and govt assassination tactics.Cox, who is now cooperating with the prosecution under a grant of immunity, told police: "He was obsessed. He talked about how violence solves problems. He even tried to convince me it was justified."Soni is now in custody. The victim is under police protection. The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office is preparing its case for trial. A court date has not yet been set. "This was a clear case of premeditation," said Sargeant Brady. "The only reason the victim is alive today is because someone came forward in time."The investigation remains active, and more charges could follow as digital and forensic evidence is analysed.