Mumbai: In a major crackdown, the Mumbai police have apprehended 367 wanted and absconding accused during a special drive conducted between January 1 and March 31, 2026. Acting on the directives of the police commissioner, the city police launched the operation to track down and arrest individuals who had been evading legal proceedings for years. All arrested individuals have been produced before the relevant courts.
Long-Term Fugitives Nabbed
Significantly, 18 of those arrested had been absconding for over two decades, living under false identities in different locations. Among the most notable arrests, the Azad Maidan police station captured an accused who had been on the run since 1987, while the N M Joshi Marg police station arrested another fugitive who had evaded capture since 1988.
Breakdown of Arrests by Time Period
The arrests span cases from different eras. According to official data, 18 accused were wanted in cases dating before 2005, 4 from the period 2006–2010, 10 from 2011–2016, 33 from 2016–2020, and the majority, 302 accused, were from cases registered from 2021 onwards. This reflects the police's focus on both historical and recent crimes.
The special drive underscores the Mumbai police's commitment to ensuring that no criminal escapes the long arm of the law, regardless of how much time has passed.
