In a dramatic turn of events, a man accused of raping an engineering student in 2016, who was believed to have died a decade ago, was discovered alive and apprehended by police in Karimnagar on Monday. The arrest came after his wife alerted authorities, claiming he posed a threat to her life.
The Accused and the 2016 Incident
Mohammed Abdul Wajid, also known as Dhoom Khalid, was arrested in 2016 for allegedly raping an engineering student. However, before his arrest, local residents attacked him and crushed his legs with stones, leading to amputation. After being discharged from the hospital, he was remanded in judicial custody. He later secured bail and disappeared, using acquaintances to spread false news of his death.
Wife's Tip-Off Leads to Arrest
The truth surfaced recently when his wife, residing in Medipally, Hyderabad, approached police claiming that Khalid was planning to kill her as he suspected her of having an affair. Acting on her information, police tracked him down and arrested him in Karimnagar on Monday.
During the investigation, police discovered that while on the run, Khalid had stayed in Nanded, Chandrapur, and Nagpur in Maharashtra. There, he formed a gang and engaged in extortion. To avoid detection, he pretended to be a beggar during his stay in Maharashtra, according to Karimnagar rural inspector A Niranjan Reddy.
Criminal History and Pending Cases
Khalid has a criminal history dating back to 2009 and was previously convicted in a case. He remains an accused in six other cases, with three non-bailable warrants pending against him in Karimnagar. The 2016 rape case is also still pending, as police had only heard rumors of his death and the court insisted on a death certificate. Khalid has been sent to judicial remand, police said.
