Pune: After evading police for seven years, a murder accused was arrested by the Pune Crime Branch from the Kashigaon area in Thane district. The accused, Sunil Lakshman Pawar (34), had been living under various aliases in different regions since 2017 when he was implicated in a murder case.

The incident dates back to 2017 when Pawar, a resident of Gokhalenagar, allegedly killed a man over a minor dispute. A murder case was registered against him at Chatuhshrungi Police Station, but Pawar managed to flee.

Despite numerous attempts by the police to track him down, Pawar remained untraceable, leading the court to declare him an absconder. Even after being declared a fugitive, Pawar avoided court appearances, further complicating efforts to apprehend him.

The breakthrough came when the Crime Branch's Anti-Robbery and Vehicle Theft Squad, while on patrol, received specific intelligence about Pawar's whereabouts.

Police personnel Balu Gaikwad and Mahesh Patil informed their superiors that Pawar was hiding in Thane district under a new identity. A team led by Police Inspector Nandkumar Bidwai and Assistant Inspector Praveen Kalukhe was immediately dispatched to Thane.

Upon reaching the location, Pawar noticed the approaching police team and tried to escape. However, the officers gave chase and successfully apprehended him.

Further investigations revealed that Pawar had been living under false identities in multiple locations, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ranjangaon, to avoid detection.

The police transferred Pawar to the custody of Chatuhshrungi Police for further proceedings. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingale and Assistant Commissioner Ganesh Ingle.

This arrest marks the culmination of a seven-year manhunt, with police officials commending the coordinated efforts of the Crime Branch.