Actor, who worked with Bachchan and Aamir Khan, arrested after 12 years on the run

A 53-year-old professional actor, who jumped parole while serving life term in a murder case and changed his identity to star alongside Bollywood actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, and Ranveer Singh, was arrested in Ahmedabad on Thursday after 12 years.

Hemant Modi, originally a resident of Naroda in Ahmedabad, was recently traced to a house near Ghee Kanta Metro Station in the city, where Ahmedabad Crime Branch officials arrested him.

Ahmedabad Crime Branch DCP Ajit Rajian told India Today that Modi had been convicted in a 2005 murder case in Naroda and was serving a life sentence. He was lodged in Mehsana jail before being granted parole by the Gujarat High Court in 2014. However, after the completion of the 30-day parole period, the 53-year-old failed to surrender before authorities and was officially declared a "parole jumper" on July 25, 2014.

During the years he was on the run, Modi continued to work actively in films, television serials, web series and even in theatres.

"During his 10 years on the run, Modi maintained a highly active and visible career in the entertainment industry, appearing in major Bollywood productions such as Thugs of Hindostan alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan, and Jayeshbhai Jordaar with Ranveer Singh," the official release said.

It added that he also remained active in theatres, performing in plays such as 'Yugpurush' and 'Gandhi Viruddh Godse'. "Despite his public-facing career in films, web series and serials, he successfully evaded authorities until the recent detection by the crime branch," the release said.

Investigators said his professional portfolio during the period also included upcoming films such as Lahore 1947 and Metro...In Dino, the South Indian film L2: Empuraan, and television serials including Wagle Ki Duniya and Mere Sai.

The crime branch will hand him over to the Mehsana District Jail so that he serves the remainder of his life term.

The 2005 case against Modi was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder), 324 (causing hurt with dangerous weapons), 147 and 148 (rioting and rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), along with section 135(1) of the Bombay Police Act related to violation of police prohibitory orders.

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(With inputs from PTI)