A history-sheeter from Karnataka, who had escaped from the police custody a year ago, resulting in the suspension of seven police personnel, was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday. The accused kept changing his place of stay frequently but was caught after he was identified on the basis of a wound that he sustained to his leg recently.
According to Crime Branch officers, Satish Chavan was wanted in a robbery case in August last year by the Kopal Rural police in Karnataka. On August 24, 2018, Mr. Chavan was taken into the police custody from Belgaum Central Jail, where he was in judicial custody after being arrested in a dacoity case, when he jumped out of the police vehicle and fled. The incident led to the suspension of seven policemen from Karnataka and caused an uproar at the time.
Sources said earlier this year, the Crime Branch Unit XI received information that Mr. Chavan, who hails from Indapur in Pune district, was hiding in Mumbai. “We were on his trail for nearly two months, during which we sought the help of local informants in slum pockets in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad. Mr. Chavan was paranoid and kept a close watch around him. Every time one of our informants tried to seek information about him, he would notice them and shift with his family — his wife and two children — to a new area,” a Crime Branch officer said.
The officer said they then circulated his picture among informants. Earlier this month, they got a tip-off that a man corresponding to Mr. Chavan’s description had come to stay in a slum pocket near Don Bosco High School in Kandivali.
“We were informed that the suspect had recently sustained a wound below his knee while working as a labourer on a daily wage basis. Unwilling to take the risk of letting any of our people get too close to him, we started keeping a watch on the approach roads leading to the slum,” the officer said.
On Wednesday morning, Mr. Chavan was seen exiting the slum. He was recognised on the basis of his wound and picked up for inquiries, after which he confessed to his true identity.
“Apart from Karnataka, he has cases of robbery registered against him in Thane, Palghar and Raigad. We have informed the Karnataka police, who will be taking him into custody soon. Other police stations where he is wanted, too, will seek his custody,” the officer said.
