Mumbai Police Arrest 367 Absconding Accused in Special Drive
The Mumbai police arrested 367 absconding accused during a special drive conducted between January 1 and March 31. The crackdown targeted individuals evading law enforcement across several local jurisdictions, including Azad Maidan, N M Joshi Marg, Khar, Goregaon East, and Andheri, with several suspects apprehended after fleeing the city or state for decades.
Among those apprehended during the drive, 18 individuals were wanted in cases dating back to 2005 or earlier and had been absconding for over 20 years. Four suspects were wanted in cases from 2006 to 2010, having evaded arrest for 15 to 20 years, while 10 were tied to cases between 2011 and 2016. Additionally, 33 accused were traced in cases from 2016 to 2020, and 302 individuals were wanted in cases from 2021 to 2026 for periods up to five years.
Local police stations across the city traced several long-unresolved cases during and following the operation. The Azad Maidan police traced an accused who had been absconding since 1987, while the N M Joshi Marg police arrested an individual wanted since 1988. Both suspects had been living outside Maharashtra under assumed identities.
In July, the Khar police arrested a 67-year-old man who had been absconding for nearly 18 years in connection with a 2008 theft case. Technical intelligence enabled officers to locate him in Goregaon East. In another operation, the MIDC police traveled to Goa to arrest a man who had been missing for nine years following the 2017 murder of an Andheri scrap dealer.
Commenting on the challenges of tracking fugitives, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Rohidas Dusar noted that habitual criminals frequently leave the city or state, alter their names and physical appearances, and avoid using mobile phones. He explained that after prolonged periods, untraceable cases involve warrants and proclamation proceedings, requiring local intelligence and interstate coordination. Dusar added that the Crime Branch monitors suspects' residences and relatives, noting that criminals often grow careless over time and return to familiar locations.
However, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajendra Trivedi offered a critical perspective on such police drives, labeling them an "eyewash." Trivedi questioned why suspects in serious, high-profile crimes remain unarrested, citing cases such as BMC officer Mahesh Patil, accused of cheating Habiba Jaffrey of crores, and former police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who remained untraced while his service was reportedly counted during his absence.
Modern tracking efforts rely on phone records, financial transactions, property and vehicle details, social media, and interstate databases. However, officials noted that time significantly weakens prosecution as witnesses pass away or relocate, memories fade, and critical case documents disappear over time.
