In a significant breakthrough, the Surat Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB) police have successfully apprehended a 40-year-old man accused of murder, ending a 15-year-long manhunt that spanned multiple states. The arrest was made in the industrial city of Hosur, Tamil Nadu, bringing closure to a case dating back to 2011.
The Crime and the Long Escape
The accused, identified as Rajkumar Patel, was a wanted fugitive in connection with the killing of Bharatprasad Patel in Kamrej town of Surat district. The crime occurred on January 22, 2011, and was reportedly rooted in an old enmity. According to police records, Rajkumar Patel, along with associates Abhimanyu, Ashok, Amarendra, and Kallu, allegedly carried out the murder. Immediately after the incident, Patel fled from Surat and had been absconding ever since.
His disappearance was so complete that the Surat superintendent of police had announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for any information leading to his capture. For years, investigators struggled to trace his whereabouts as he deliberately stayed off the grid.
The Tip-Off and the Arrest
The case finally saw movement when the PCB police received a crucial tip-off. PCB police inspector RS Suvera stated that they got information indicating Patel was residing in Hosur. After thorough verification, a police team pinpointed his location to the campus of GDN Company in Hosur, where he was employed.
A dedicated team from the Surat PCB was dispatched to Tamil Nadu. They coordinated locally and arrested Patel directly from his workplace, ending his decade-and-a-half-long run from the law. The operation demonstrated effective interstate police cooperation.
A Life on the Run Across States
During the investigation following his arrest, it was revealed that Rajkumar Patel had adopted an extremely cautious lifestyle to avoid detection. Police officials disclosed that over the past 15 years, he had frequently changed his locations, living and working in several states including Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
In a strategic move to evade capture, he deliberately avoided visiting his native state of Madhya Pradesh, fearing that his presence there could alert authorities or informants. This constant movement and avoidance of familiar territories allowed him to remain hidden for an exceptionally long period.
After completing the necessary legal formalities in connection with his arrest from another state, Rajkumar Patel will be handed over to the Kamrej police station. The local police will then take him into custody for further investigation and legal proceedings in the original murder case.
This arrest highlights the persistence of law enforcement agencies in pursuing long-pending cases and serves as a reminder that legal accountability has no expiry date.
