In a surprising development, police in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district arrested a 59-year-old man who had been absconding for 45 years in connection with a wheat theft case dating back to 1980. The accused, identified as Salim, was allegedly involved in the theft of 90 kilograms of wheat valued at Rs 184, when the government rate was Rs 2.05 per kilogram.
The case originally involved seven individuals accused of stealing wheat stored in a field near Balsamud village. Over time, two of the accused died and four secured bail, but Salim and another accused went missing. During a recent special drive targeting long-pending absconders, police reopened the file and discovered Salim was still untraced.
After investigating leads, officers tracked him to Bag town in neighbouring Dhar district, where he had been living under a concealed identity and running a small grocery shop with his son. Authorities stated that he believed the case had been forgotten over the years. Following his arrest, Salim was presented before the Kasrawad court and sent to judicial custody.
However, his wife has questioned the legality of the arrest, claiming he was between 13 and 15 years old at the time of the alleged theft and should have been treated as a minor under the law.
