Mumbai: The Mumbai crime branch has arrested 45-year-old man who is allegedly a former gang member of the Arun Gawli gang, and was on the run after jumping bail almost 23 years ago, according to the police. The accused who was a Bhandup resident before he went into hiding has close to half a dozen cases against him including extortion and assault. Officials of Unit -VII who nabbed him said that he did not visit his residence after jumping bail in 1995 and was staying in Badlapur, where he got married and lived thereafter. The officials said that he allegedly did not commit any crime after fleeing Mumbai, however they are verifying his record of last 23 years.

The arrested accused was identified as Suresh Upadhyay, (45) he was running a flour mill since the last eight years. The officials said that he fled to his native place in Uttar Pradesh before returning to the outskirts of Mumbai. Upadhyay was declared absconder after he stopped coming to court after being let off on bail in 1995. He was booked by Bhandup police for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act.

“He returned and got married and was staying in Badlapur with his family. After the unit VII received a tip off about the accused a team headed by senior inspector Anil Mane reached to the spot and found that he was indeed staying there,” said a police officer. “The accused has cases registered with the Bhandup and Ulhasnagar police stations and was an active operative of the Arun Gawali gang in the nineties,” said Nisar Tamboli, deputy commissioner of police (crime branch).