A murder convict who evaded parole for nearly a decade was arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Wednesday. Hemant Modi,53, had been living under a new identity,reportedly building a career in Bollywood and Gujarati cinema since he absconded in 2014.
Modi was serving life sentence in connection with a 2005 murder and rioting case when he was granted a 30-day parole by the Gujarat High Court. However,he failed to return to custody after the parole period ended, leading the court to declare him a parole absconder in July 2014.
During his time on the run,Modi managed to establish notable presence in film industry,featuring in significant productions like Thugs of Hindostan,which starred Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan,as well as Jayeshbhai Jordaar, alongside Ranveer Singh. The Crime Branch noted that he maintained a "highly active and visible career" despite his fugitive status.
Following his arrest near a metro station,Modi is set to be returned to Mehsana District Jail to complete his life sentence. The case raises questions about how he was able to navigate the entertainment industry while evading law enforcement for so long .
