A man convicted of murder, who had evaded authorities for 24 years by changing his identity and establishing a new life, has been apprehended by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The fugitive, identified as Rakesh Patel, also known as Pappi, was arrested from the outskirts of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
Patel was serving a life sentence for a murder that occurred in 1990 in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area. He had been convicted in 1995 along with two associates for stabbing a neighbor to death. He was initially granted parole in 1999 for his wedding and subsequently surrendered to jail authorities upon its expiry. However, in 2002, he was granted parole again following the birth of his second child. This time, Patel failed to return to jail after the parole period ended on June 24, 2002, and remained at large for over two decades.
The investigation into Patel’s disappearance involved extensive technical and manual surveillance. Police analyzed his criminal history, parole records, mobile phone details, and known hideouts. This led them to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where Patel was allegedly living under the assumed identity of ‘Nandlal Verma.’ He had reportedly established himself as a spare auto parts businessman and lived with his family, attempting to blend into society and avoid detection.
During the arrest, Patel initially attempted to mislead the police by claiming to be Nandlal Verma and denying any connection to the murder case. However, further interrogation and the presentation of evidence led to his confession. He admitted to jumping parole in 2002 and moving between various locations to evade capture before settling in Prayagraj, where he had been residing since 2022.
The successful apprehension marks a significant breakthrough for the Delhi Police Crime Branch in a long-pending case. The operation involved meticulous planning and execution, with raids conducted at multiple locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh before the final arrest was made in Prayagraj.
The Chenab Times News Desk