Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 5: A 49-year-old man who had been absconding for more than two decades in connection with a human trafficking case was arrested by the Oshiwara Police following an extensive search operation.

The accused, identified as Rajendra Shinde, was produced before a magistrate's court in Mazgaon on June 3 after being taken into custody.

According to police, the case against Shinde dates back to 2004. After repeatedly failing to appear before the court, the Sewri Sessions Court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him and directed the police to trace and arrest him.

Investigators initially searched for Shinde at his last known residence in a slum colony in Mumbai. However, the settlement had been demolished during a redevelopment project in 2012-13, making the search more challenging.

Using a network of informants, police learned that Shinde had sold his house in 2005 and allegedly moved to his native place. Further inquiries, however, revealed that he was no longer residing there.

After pursuing multiple leads over the years, police eventually discovered that Shinde had shifted to Vile Parle. A surveillance operation was launched, and officers successfully apprehended him on June 3.

The arrest was carried out by a police team under the supervision of Senior Inspector Sanjay Chavan and Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohit Garg.

Police said further legal proceedings in the long-pending trafficking case are now underway.