Police arrest accused on the run for 18 years

After being on the run for 18 years, a key accused in a 2007 pesticide fraud case has been arrested by the Kalaburagi District Police.

Based on a complaint lodged by an Agriculture Department official stating that a three-member gang from Beed district in Maharashtra was illegally transporting pesticides to Motakpalli village in Sedam taluk and selling them causing losses to farmers and the State government, a case was registered by the Mudhol Police.

The police booked the three, Sophan Shesharao Tonde, Narayan and Siris, in September 2007 and filed a charge-sheet in March 2008.

While Narayan and Siris later appeared before court, Sophan Tonde, the prime accused, never attended any hearing. In 2016, the court declared the case as long pending.

Acting on the directions of Superintendent of Police Addur Srinivasalu, Additional Superintendent of Police Mahesh Meghannavar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Sangamanath Hiremath, a special team led by Mudhol Police Inspector Daulat N. Kuri intensified efforts to locate the absconding accused.

For the last four months, the team carried out surveillance across multiple locations in Maharashtra, constantly tracking Sophan Tonde’s movements and finally arrested him on Thursday in Chopanwadi village of Ambajogai taluk in Beed district.

Mr. Srinivasalu praised the team for the hard work and consistent efforts in arresting the long-absconding accused.