Mumbai Police arrest rape accused absconding for nearly 20 years from Pune

An extensive manhunt was launched. Pic/Special Arrangement

A 42-year-old man who had been absconding for nearly two decades in a rape and kidnapping case, registered at Mumbai's Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station, was arrested from Chakan in Pune district after an extensive manhunt, police said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Santosh Bhikan Yadav, a native of Jharkhand, was wanted in connection with case registered under Sections 363 (kidnapping), 366 (abduction), and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code in 2007.

According to police, Yadav was arrested in the case in 2007 and was later released on bail by a court. However, after securing bail, he failed to appear before the court and remained absconding for almost 20 years.

Investigators said tracking him proved extremely challenging as he had allegedly changed his name and identity and kept moving from one city to another while taking up different jobs to evade arrest.

Following fresh efforts under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Amit Tad, the Vinoba Bhave Nagar police's surveillance team reopened the search and developed leads regarding the accused's whereabouts.

A team led by Police Sub-Inspector Mahadev Bhise, along with police personnel Baba Rathod, Police Head Constable Avhad, Police Naik Prabhakar Devkar, and Police Constable Amar Patil, traced Yadav to a slum locality falling under the jurisdiction of the South Chakan police station in Pune district.

With the assistance of the South Chakan police, the team conducted a search operation and apprehended the accused from Chakan, bringing an end to his 20-year run from the law.

Police said Yadav will now be produced before the concerned court, and further legal proceedings are underway.