Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Monday arrested a life convict who had allegedly jumped parole twice, changed his identity through an official gazette notification, and lived undetected in Ahmedabad for more than a decade. The accused, identified as Satish Himmatlal Ruparelia, also known by the aliases Bhikhu and Sanjay Thakkar, had reportedly been operating a finance business in the city’s Prahladnagar area while evading authorities.

Ruparelia was convicted in 2000 for the brutal 1994 murder of textile merchant Arvind Shah in Ahmedabad’s Shahibaug area. According to police records, Shah was murdered on October 22, 1994, inside a room at Neelam Hotel, where Ruparelia and co-accused Rajan Panchal had allegedly taken him after bringing him from his shop in Kalupur. Investigators said the accused intended to rob Shah of his jewellery and cash before the situation turned violent.

Police stated that the accused allegedly threatened Shah with a knife and demanded that he hand over his gold rings, chain, and money. During the confrontation, Shah reportedly attempted to resist and snatch the weapon, leading to a violent scuffle in which all three sustained injuries. Investigators said Ruparelia and Panchal then stabbed Shah multiple times, inflicting around 30 to 35 wounds before killing him. The accused allegedly decapitated the victim and fled with gold ornaments and cash, while the headless body was later discovered in the hotel room.

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Authorities said Ruparelia was serving a life sentence but had jumped parole on two separate occasions. During his years absconding, he allegedly changed his identity legally through a gazette notification and continued living in Ahmedabad without attracting suspicion. Police said he managed to establish himself socially and professionally under the new identity, complicating efforts to trace him for several years.

The arrest is being viewed as a significant breakthrough for the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, which had continued tracking the convict despite the long gap since his disappearance. Officials said further investigation is underway to determine how Ruparelia managed to evade arrest for such an extended period and whether any individuals assisted him in concealing his identity. The case has also raised questions about parole monitoring systems and verification mechanisms related to legal identity changes.

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