Proclaimed offender in sexual assault case nabbed after 5 yrs

According to the police, the arrest was carried out by a team of the ARSC, led by inspectors Mangesh Tyagi and Robin Tyagi, under the supervision of ACP Sanjay Kumar Nagpal.

The accused was finally apprehended on January 10 following sustained technical surveillance and human intelligence.

The case dates back to March 2021, when the victim, a graduate working at a Delhi government-run Mohalla Clinic, lodged a complaint alleging that she had approached the accused for assistance in filling out a Civil Defence job form. During this interaction, the accused allegedly obtained her mobile number and later contacted her on the pretext of providing her documents. The complainant alleged that the accused sexually assaulted her, leading to pregnancy, and later recorded obscene videos of her. She further alleged that the accused circulated the videos to her family members, threatening and traumatising her.

Despite multiple attempts by the police, the accused could not be traced and was, subsequently, declared a proclaimed offender by the court. During this period, he allegedly moved across Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, frequently changing his identity and working in hatcheries and hotels to avoid detection.

The police said that a recent tip-off led the Crime Branch to track his movements. A raid was conducted on the outskirts of Haridwar on January 9, but the accused managed to escape with the help of his local associates. The team, however, continued surveillance and traced him back to the Outer Delhi area, where he was arrested the following day.

Cops also said that in 2022, while hiding in Sonepat, Haryana, the accused had escaped during a police raid, during which his associates allegedly attacked a police team, leading to the registration of a separate case in Haryana.

The accused was produced before the court concerned on January 10 and was formally arrested by the investigating officer of the Ranhola police station, the police said.