In a significant breakthrough, the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) police in Surat have apprehended a 32-year-old robbery convict who had been on the run for over 18 months after jumping parole. The arrest culminated a meticulous three-night surveillance operation.
The Elusive Fugitive and the Covert Operation
The accused, identified as Mehul Bhatti alias Mahesh Babar, was finally tracked down to a diamond unit in Surat's Chowk Bazar area. Bhatti had been granted parole to file an appeal against his conviction in the Gujarat High Court but failed to report back to Lajpore jail and vanished. Police teams had previously pursued leads in Bhopal and Mumbai as the fugitive frequently changed locations to avoid capture.
Acting on a blend of human and technical intelligence, officers pinpointed his workplace. To evade detection, Bhatti had strategically taken up night shifts at the unit. Undeterred, DCB personnel adopted clever disguises, posing as labourers and fast-food vendors, and maintained a covert watch outside the premises for three consecutive nights.
The Dramatic Arrest at Gunpoint
The operation reached its climax on Tuesday night. When Mehul Bhatti arrived at the diamond unit with two associates, the waiting DCB team moved in. They cornered and arrested him at gunpoint, putting an end to his extended period as a fugitive.
Bhatti's original crime dates back to 2016 in Surat's Varachha area, where he attacked a mobile phone shop owner with a knife and robbed him of cash. For this offence, a Surat court had convicted and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
Surat Police Crackdown: 30 Habitual Offenders Booked Under PASA
In a parallel crackdown on crime, Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut invoked the stringent Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act against 30 habitual offenders. This action has led to their transfer to various jails across the state.
Notable individuals booked under this act include:
- Mohammad Imran Kumbhar, accused in cyber fraud cases, lodged in Ahmedabad jail.
- Pankaj Shah, accused in a diamond fraud, sent to Bhuj jail.
- Sahil Khan, Juber Baig, and Nilesh Naik, accused in POCSO and molestation cases, sent to jails in Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
This move highlights the police's continued focus on targeting repeat offenders. The data reveals that so far in 2025, the police commissioner has invoked PASA against a total of 969 criminals in the city.
