Two undertrial prisoners who had been granted interim bail in 2023 failed to return to jail and spent nearly three years disguising themselves and begging outside temples in Gujarat. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, under “Operation Karavas,” apprehended the couple, Ashok alias Maharaj Patel, 48, and his wife Renuka Patel, 51, from beneath the CTM Bridge in Ahmedabad.
The couple had been living on the footpath, changing their appearance to evade arrest while begging outside temples across the state. Both Ashok and Renuka were undertrial prisoners at Ahmedabad Central Jail, facing charges under various laws, including the POCSO Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code, and the Prohibition Act.
Ashok, undertrial prisoner No. 6737, and Renuka, undertrial prisoner No. 353, were released on interim bail on August 5, 2023, but failed to surrender as required on August 9, 2023. After being located in the CTM area, they were detained by the Crime Branch officers and subsequently handed over to Ahmedabad Central Jail to complete their sentence.
Police records reveal that Ashok has a criminal history dating back to 2015, with cases registered at various police stations for offenses like gambling, POCSO violations, and other IPC provisions. Similarly, Renuka is also accused in several cases involving offenses under the POCSO Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and the IPC. The arrests were part of the Crime Branch’s initiative to trace and apprehend absconding prisoners.
