Palghar, Maharashtra: After nearly 24 years on the run, a man accused of murder has been apprehended in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, by the Crime Branch Unit-2 of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate. The arrest sheds light on a 2001 murder case that stemmed from a dispute over rickshaw fare.

The Murder Case

The case dates back to January 14, 2001, when Moharram Ali Mohammad Ibrahim Ali (46), a hardware shop owner in Virar (West), was fatally stabbed in the abdomen. An FIR was lodged on October 14, 2001, at the Virar Police Station under IPC Section 302. Two suspects were identified: Harunali Mustakin Ali Syed and Mamu alias Chhote Babua Omprakash Shri Sahu Diwakar Doshi. While Syed was arrested earlier, Sahu, a resident of Paharpur, District Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, managed to evade capture for over two decades. Due to his prolonged absence, the court had framed charges against both accused under Section 299 of the CrPC.

The Investigation and Arrest

Under the directive of Commissioner of Police Shri Madhukar Pandey, Crime Branch officers reignited the investigation. Officers traced Sahu by scrutinizing old transportation records, licenses, and motor vehicle cases with the RTO. Acting on credible intelligence and detailed digital analysis, officers identified a mobile number linked to the accused's relatives.

Further surveillance led them to Sahu near Shukla Petrol Pump in Kanpur, where he was working as a rickshaw driver under an alias. On April 27, 2025, a police team led by Police Sub-Inspector Ajit Gite swiftly executed an operation, resulting in Sahu's arrest.

During interrogation, Sahu confessed to his involvement in the murder. He revealed that he and co-accused Syed killed the victim due to personal enmity. The motive, as confessed by Sahu, was a dispute over unpaid rickshaw fare and the victim's alleged prohibition against the accused parking near his shop. This fueled resentment, leading to the fatal attack.

The successful operation was overseen by Additional Commissioner Shri Dattatray Shinde, DCP (Crime) Shri Avinash Ambure, and ACP (Crime) Shri Madan Ballal. The investigation team included Police Inspector Sameer Ahirrao, along with several other officers and constables from Crime Branch Unit-2, Vasai, who received technical support from the Cyber Cell and local police in Kanpur.