Murder accused absconding for five years held by Crime Branch on return to Khaparkheda

Prashant alias Sonu Shankar Chaudhary (34), who had been absconding for five years in a murder case, has been arrested by Unit-6 of the Crime Branch. According to police, he stayed in Punjab for four years and in Bihar for one year to evade arrest. He had returned to Khaparkheda with his family only a few days ago. When police got wind of it, his movements were put under watch. Police personnel kept vigil through the cold night on Monday and caught him on Tuesday morning.

The alertness of policemen Sunil Yadav and Dinesh Mahalle was crucial to the operation. Both waited through the night looking for the accused. As soon as Prashant reached his two-wheeler in the morning, the police team detained him.

Police had learnt that the absconding Prashant owned a Duet two-wheeler, but his exact whereabouts were not known. On this lead, Yadav and Mahalle began a search on Monday night in Chanakpur Colony in Khaparkheda. After some time they spotted a suspicious two-wheeler, but could not identify the accused's house. Fearing he might slip away, the two stayed on and kept watch.

According to police, Chaudhary's name had surfaced in a murder case in front of Raj Baba Bar in Khaparkheda. He had been on the run since that case. He spent about four years in Punjab and one year in Bihar to evade police, and married during this time. Police had been told a few days ago that he had returned to Khaparkheda with his family, and he had been under watch since then. Police finally cordoned off the area and arrested him.

Apart from the 2021 murder case, a non-bailable warrant was also pending against Chaudhary at Khaparkheda police station in a 2019 robbery case. Police were also looking for him in a murder case registered at Deoli police station in Wardha district.

After the arrest, the accused underwent a medical examination. He was then handed over to Khaparkheda police for further investigation and legal action. The operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Inspector Bharat Kanhade.