Long-awaited justice: Antop Hill police nabs rape-case fugitive after eight years

The accused Vijay Gagansingh in police custody

In a significant breakthrough, the Antop Hill police successfully re-arrested an accused who had been on the run for eight years in a heinous rape case. The accused, identified as Vijay Gagansingh, 32, was absconding in Nepal and has been brought back to India to face justice.

The crime dates back to 2015 when Gagansingh allegedly seduced and abducted a minor daughter of the plaintiff, leading to her rape. A case was registered against him under Sections 363, 376, 406 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the POCSO Act.

According to the FIR filed in 2015, a 16-year-old girl and 24-year-old Gagansingh met in Antop Hill in a nearby park. They started talking and eventually began a romantic relationship, which led to Gagansingh allegedly eloping with the victim and raping her at his home in Antop Hill.

The victim's father reported the incident to the police in July 2015, leading to Gagansingh's initial arrest and the victim's rescue. However, after four months in custody, he was released on bail for one week during which he escaped to Nepal.

Despite continuous efforts by law enforcement over the years, the accused managed to evade arrest, resulting in the issuance of a permanent arrest warrant by Sessions Court No.24 in Mumbai, declaring him as "absconding."

The breakthrough came through relentless efforts by the Antop Hill police, who launched an intensive search operation. Clues led them to Gagansingh's former residential address in the Antop Hill area, but it was discovered that the house had been sold in 2018, leaving the accused's whereabouts a mystery.

"We managed to obtain mobile numbers of Gagansingh's family members, but they were tight-lipped about his current location. However, a friend of the accused disclosed that he was residing in Nepal and occasionally visited India. With this information, we intensified surveillance on Gagansingh's family and maintained a close watch for several months. The breakthrough finally came when an undercover informant tipped off the police that the accused was en route to Mumbai from Dhangadhi, Nepal.

Acting on this information, a team from the Antop Hill police station, along with the crime investigation unit, intercepted Gagansingh at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. He was apprehended and taken into custody," said PSI Shivani Madane.

The accused has now been re-arrested and will face the charges against him in the court of law.

July 2015
Month case was filed