Carmel man charged with conspiracy to murder his wife

By DANIELLE ZULKOSKY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

A Carmel man has been charged with a conspiracy to murder his wife, according to a Carmel Police Department investigation.

Darshan R. Soni, 44, was accused of a plot to kill his wife with the help of an employee, Ken Cox, court documents say. Carmel police arrested Soni last Friday, May 16, charges were filed Tuesday, and his initial hearing was set for this Friday afternoon in Hamilton Superior Court 3.

Soni faces high-level felony charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder that did not result in death.

The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office has called for a special prosecutor in the case, according to online court records. Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Kocher explained that he is running for prosecutor in 2026, and Soni contributed to his campaign. Kocher said he does not personally know Soni and has returned the donation, which was why Kocher chose to ask for a special prosecutor to try the case.

In a probable cause affidavit, Carmel police Sgt. Sean P. Brady said the investigation began after the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department received a tip about the conspiracy on May 10. The tipster reported that Soni asked Cox if he would be willing to kill his wife on May 16, and if the tipster knew where to obtain a silencer. The tipster said he didn’t know where to get a silencer and was “not interested in committing any more crimes,” the affidavit said.

Cox allegedly agreed to help Soni with an alibi by possessing his cell phone at a different location in Indianapolis during the planned murder.

The affidavit says police informed Soni’s wife that she may have been poisoned. She reported noticing a white clumpy substance in her smoothies, which Soni claimed might be dishwashing detergent. His wife reported experiencing unusual symptoms, including nerve pain in November and thyroid issues in February.

Cox, who has not been charged in connection to the plot, cooperated with the police after seeking legal counsel. He wore a recording device during a conversation with Soni at Compass Property Management, Soni’s real estate company on South Meridian Street at West Hanna Avenue on the south side of Indianapolis.

Cox told police about the purchase of a silver Ford Escape, which was intended to be used in the murder. Cox allowed a tracking device to be placed on the SUV.

Cox also told police that Soni had been reading a book about murder and had ordered poison from India. The document also said Soni called the poison “bunk” because it did not “test.”

During a meeting with Cox, Soni reportedly expressed gratitude for being talked out of the murder plot and discussed the possibility of divorce instead. Soni acknowledged the stress he caused Cox and mentioned that he had been on the edge but decided against pursuing violence.

Click here to read the probable cause affidavit.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/darshan-soni-accused-wife-murder-conspiracy.