Navi Mumbai Murder Suspect Caught After 13-Year Manhunt

Navi Mumbai police have apprehended Chhotu Markat Yadav, a 36-year-old Bihar native, after a 13-year manhunt for the brutal murder of his associate, Bhavankhan Ugan Yadav, in October 2012. The arrest, executed by the Crime Branch’s Central Unit in Nagpur on Thursday, ends a long pursuit that began when Chhotu allegedly stabbed the 50-year-old victim to death in Rabale MIDC over an unpaid Rs 25,000 loan.

Acting on fresh intelligence and technical analysis, a team led by Senior Inspector Sunil Shinde, including PSI Sanjay Reddy, Sanjay Pawar, and constables Anil Yadav, Kiran Raut, Ajay Kadam, and Rahul Wagh, traced Chhotu to Nagpur’s Wadi area. “During the probe, we discovered the accused was residing in Nagpur,” said ACP Mahesh Landge. The team laid a trap and arrested him without incident, leveraging CCTV footage and mobile data to pinpoint his location.

The murder stemmed from a financial dispute. Both Chhotu and Bhavankhan worked as watchmen in Rabale MIDC, a bustling industrial hub. According to police, Bhavankhan had borrowed Rs 25,000 from Chhotu but repeatedly failed to repay despite demands. Enraged, Chhotu allegedly stabbed him in the chest with a sharp weapon on October 15, 2012, near a godown in the Airoli sector. The victim succumbed to his injuries, and Chhotu fled, evading capture for over a decade. A case was registered under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Rabale MIDC police station.

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Chhotu’s prolonged evasion involved moving across cities, reportedly working odd jobs as a laborer to avoid detection. Police sources indicate he frequently changed phone numbers and residences, complicating earlier efforts to track him. The breakthrough came when recent intelligence suggested he had settled in Nagpur, prompting the Crime Branch to act swiftly. “This arrest showcases the persistence of our team,” said DCP (Crime) Pankaj Dahane, commending the unit’s use of technical surveillance.

The case has drawn attention to the challenges of tracking absconding criminals in India’s vast urban and rural networks. Navi Mumbai, with its industrial estates and transient workforce, has seen similar cases, including the recent arrest of a man who evaded capture for 33 years after allegedly murdering his wife in Panvel in 1991.

Chhotu has been remanded to police custody for further interrogation to uncover any additional accomplices or motives. The arrest brings closure to Bhavankhan’s family, who had long awaited justice. Navi Mumbai police are now reviewing cold cases to pursue other absconding suspects, signaling a renewed push to resolve long-pending investigations.

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