In a major breakthrough, the Surat Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) has finally apprehended a key accused who had been evading the law for over two decades in a high-profile kidnapping case. The arrest brings a long-awaited sense of closure to a crime that shocked the city in 2002.
The Dramatic Arrest in Salem
The police team nabbed 60-year-old Krishna Kevat from Elampillai town near Salem city in Tamil Nadu. According to officials, they acted on a specific tip-off about his whereabouts. After thorough verification, it was confirmed that Kevat, a native of Nalanda in Bihar, had been working at a local jari unit, living under the radar for 23 years. He has now been handed over to the Sachin police station in Surat for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Recalling the 2002 Kidnapping Horror
The case dates back to December 2002, when a chilling crime unfolded in Surat. A group of four men conspired to kidnap the 2.5-year-old son of a local businessman, Dinesh Shahu. The kidnappers were identified as the family's driver, Anil Kevat, along with Anwar Hussain, Mohammad Ajju, and Krishna Kevat.
The accused demanded a hefty ransom of Rs 5 lakh from the child's family and issued dire threats to harm the toddler if their demands were not met. The incident triggered a massive police operation.
Swift Rescue and Initial Convictions
In a commendable and swift action, the police managed to track the kidnappers and successfully rescued the abducted child from Platform 7 of the Patna railway station. During this initial operation, three of the accused—Anil Kevat, Anwar Hussain, and Mohammad Ajju—were arrested. Following a trial, they were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
However, the fourth accused, Krishna Kevat, managed to escape the police dragnet and had remained absconding for 23 long years, until the recent operation by the Surat DCB.
The arrest underscores the persistence of law enforcement agencies in pursuing long-pending cases and delivering justice, no matter how much time has passed. It serves as a warning that the law has a long memory, and evading it is only a temporary escape.
