Gujarat: Two absconding undertrial prisoners held after three years

Ahmedabad, July 2 (IANS) Two undertrial prisoners who failed to return to jail after being granted interim bail in 2023 and allegedly spent nearly three years evading arrest by disguising themselves and begging outside temples across Gujarat have been apprehended by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch under its “Operation Karavas” campaign, officials said on Thursday.

The accused, identified as Ashok alias Maharaj Patel, 48, and his wife Renuka Patel, 51, were arrested from beneath the CTM Bridge opposite Hanuman Nagar in the Ramol area of the city.

Police said the couple had been living on the footpath while concealing their identities by changing their appearance and begging outside temples in different parts of the state.

According to the Crime Branch, both were undertrial prisoners lodged at Ahmedabad Central Jail in connection with multiple criminal cases, including offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Prohibition Act.

Ashok, undertrial prisoner No. 6737, and Renuka, undertrial prisoner No. 353, were released on interim bail on August 5, 2023, and were required to surrender at Ahmedabad Central Jail on August 9, 2023.

However, they failed to return after the expiry of their bail and had remained absconding since then.

Acting on information that the couple was present in the CTM area, Crime Branch officers mounted surveillance and detained them.

Following their arrest, both were handed over to Ahmedabad Central Jail, to serve the remainder of their sentence.

Police records show that Ashok has a criminal history dating back to 2015, including cases registered at Meghaninagar, Vejalpur, Odhav, Shahibaug, Kanbha, Ranpur and Kapadvanj Rural police stations.

The cases involve allegations under the Gujarat Gambling Act, the POCSO Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and various provisions of the IPC, including cheating, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, rape and forgery.

Renuka is also an accused in several of the same cases registered at Shahibaug, Kanbha, Ranpur and Kapadvanj Rural police stations, involving offences under the POCSO Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and provisions of the IPC.

“The arrests were made as part of the Crime Branch’s ongoing ‘Operation Karavas’ drive to trace and apprehend absconding prisoners,” officials noted.

–IANS

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