Changed name, moved homes: 25 years after he went absconding, Delhi man held from Thane

Officers said that Agarwal had allegedly changed his name, acquired a new identity, and had married to start a family of his own after he escaped Delhi. He even avoided getting in touch with his relatives in the Capital.

The first lead in the case, after a long hiatus, came last year, said police. “A breakthrough happened because of technical evidence which we won’t be able to reveal,” a police officer said. “However, we reached Agarwal after we arrested and questioned his two brothers in Delhi last year. They were also wanted in the case,” a police officer privy to the investigation said.

After shifting to Mumbai, the main accused allegedly initially provided loans for the purchase of vehicles before turning to manufacturing imitation jewellery. “He would frequently change his appearance, move homes, and switch mobile phone numbers,” said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crime Branch. “He even went an extra mile and avoided getting in touch with his relatives or neighbours in Delhi. He would also change his address every six months,” Yadav added.

The Crime Branch team that conducted the operation was led by Arvind Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and Inspectors Mangesh Tyagi and Robin Tyagi.

The Crime branch team that conducted the operation was led by Arvind Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and inspectors Mangesh Tyagi and Robin Tyagi. (Express photo)

The case against Agarwal dates back to 2000. On January 29, that year, Shree Nath Yadav of Raj Nagar in Ghaziabad was allegedly abducted by Suneet Agarwal alias Pappi alias Babli.

“He called Yadav’s employer Ram Gopal and demanded Rs 40,000 as ransom,” an officer said. “Both Suneet Agarwal and Yadav’s employer ran cloth shops in Chandni Chowk. So Agarwal knew Yadav. Agarwal was joined by his brothers, who also assaulted Yadav.”

Police said Agarwal and his brothers took the man to Red Fort, forced him into a car, and took him to the basement of a bungalow in Southeast Delhi’s Kalkaji. “They confined him inside that basement where they beat him up severely,” the officer said.

“Agarwal aimed a revolver at Yadav’s head and asked him to call his employer, coercing him to meet at the bridge near Delhi airport with the money,” he said. “When Agarwal forced Yadav to call again, a policeman, Sumer Singh, picked up the call. Agarwal threatened him (the officer) too.”

But when Yadav’s employer did not budge, Agarwal released Yadav at Tughlaq Road.

A case was registered at Kotwali police station, and Agarwal was arrested before being released on bail. The police also filed a charge sheet.

Agarwal, however, decided not to join the trial and was subsequently declared a ‘proclaimed offender’.

Earlier this month, police said, he was finally traced. Then, a dramatic chase followed before he was finally arrested. “We saw him and started chasing him. He jumped into an autorickshaw and once we started following, he switched places with the autorickshaw driver to mislead the police team,” an officer said.

“He had taken a gamcha (scarf) from the driver and was hiding his face with it. But our team recognised and grabbed him. It was a chase that went on for five to six km.”

The officer said Agarwal had completely erased his past and started afresh in Mumbai. “His wife had no idea that he was ever involved in a crime,” the officer said. “But he couldn’t run away from his past.”