Navi Mumbai Police Capture 70-Year-Old Man After 33 Years on the Run for Wife’s Murder
Navi Mumbai, 24th December 2024: The Navi Mumbai police have apprehended a 70-year-old man who had been on the run for 33 years after allegedly killing his wife, an official confirmed on Tuesday.
Babu Gudgiram Kale was arrested on Sunday near Mulund, Mumbai, where he had been working as a labourer and flower seller to sustain himself. The crime took place on January 28, 1991, when, after a series of domestic disputes, Kale allegedly set his wife on fire by dousing her with kerosene at their Panvel home. The woman later died from severe burns while receiving medical treatment, said Senior Inspector Nitin Thackeray of the Panvel Town police station.
An FIR was filed against Kale under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Despite the charges, Kale managed to evade capture for more than three decades.
The police, using intelligence and technical methods, followed various leads to track him down. Early tips pointed to Mulund, Mumbai, but further investigation, including tracking his mobile phone, led them to Parbhani in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region before finally locating him in Mumbai.
Kale was arrested on Sunday, and after being brought before a local magistrate, he was remanded in police custody until January 3, 2025.
