A 70-year-old man who had been absconding for over three decades following the alleged murder of his wife has been apprehended by Navi Mumbai police. The accused, identified as Babu Gudgiram Kale, was arrested on Sunday near Mulund, a suburb of Mumbai, after being on the run since the incident in 1991.

Kale had been evading authorities for 33 years, working as a labourer and flower seller in Mulund to sustain himself. The murder case dates back to January 28, 1991, when Kale allegedly murdered his wife during a domestic dispute. According to senior inspector Nitin Thackeray of Panvel Town police station, Kale is accused of dousing his wife with kerosene before setting her on fire in their home in Navi Mumbai’s Panvel area. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, later succumbed to her burn injuries while receiving treatment at a local hospital.