Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

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 recently arrested by the Oshiwara Police, bringing an end to a 22-year-long search.

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

The case against Shinde dates back to 2004. After initially facing legal proceedings, he stopped appearing before the court, prompting the Sewri Sessions Court to issue a non-bailable warrant and direct the police to trace and arrest him.

Investigators repeatedly visited his last known address in a slum settlement, but the area had been demolished during a redevelopment project around 2012-13. Further inquiries revealed that Shinde had sold his residence in 2005 and was believed to have relocated to his native village.

However, continued efforts by the police and intelligence gathered through informants indicated that he was no longer living in his hometown. Pursuing fresh leads, officers discovered that he had quietly settled in the Vile Parle area of Mumbai.

After conducting surveillance and verifying his movements, the police successfully apprehended him on June 3.

The operation was carried out by a team from Oshiwara Police Station under the supervision of Senior Inspector Sanjay Chavan and Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohit Garg.

The arrest marks a significant breakthrough for the police, who had been tracking the fugitive for more than two decades.