AHMEDABAD: After 27 years on the run, a key accused in a 1999 murder case has been arrested, giving Gujarat’s Surat police a major breakthrough in a long-pending investigation.
The accused, Rajesh (also known as Rajeshwar or Gorelal Kalu Yadav), was caught in Bihar’s Nalanda district. His arrest helps solve a case that began with a minor dispute over a machine but quickly escalated into a brutal, revenge-driven killing.
On November 29, 1999, in the Pandesara area of Surat, Rajesh and his associates allegedly attacked a man named Indradev on a dirt road. Armed with sharp weapons, they carried out a planned and violent assault, repeatedly striking him until he died on the spot. The attackers then fled, leaving the case unresolved for years.
While other accused were eventually tracked down, Rajesh managed to evade arrest for decades. Police traced his roots to a village in Bihar, but repeated searches failed to locate him. A non-bailable warrant was also issued, yet he remained untraceable.
Recently, fresh intelligence led police to Tikulipar village in Nalanda, where Rajesh had been living quietly as a farm labourer under a new identity. A special police team tracked him down and arrested him.
After being brought back to Surat, Rajesh reportedly confessed during interrogation. He admitted that he fled to Bihar immediately after the murder and stayed hidden for nearly three decades to avoid capture.
His arrest finally brings progress to a case that had remained unresolved for 27 years, showing that even after decades, the law can still catch up.