22-year-old Pravesh Yadav who arrived at the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh to take a holy dip was arrested by police on Sunday.
A resident of Alwar, Rajasthan, Yadav had been on the run for more than a year and was wanted in a liquor smuggling case. Due to police monitoring at Prayagraj, Yadav's visit ended with his arrest even as millions came to the holy junction for spiritual purification.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhadohi, Abhimanyu Manglik, Yadav had been on the run since July 2023.
During a vehicle inspection on National Highway-19 on July 29, 2023, a major haul of adulterated liquor intended for smuggling from Alwar to Bihar was seized. Two suspects, Pradeep Yadav and Raj Domoliya, were arrested during the operation, but Pravesh managed to flee.
Police claim the team had been running illegal alcohol to Bihar for quite a while. Alongside breaches of the Gangster Act and Excise Act, a case was filed against them under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including fraud, forgery, and food adulteration.
How did Yadav’s Maha Kumbh visit lead to his capture?
Yadav's wish to participate in the holy ritual of bathing at the Sangam brought him to the police radar even though he had been on the run for more than 18 years. Using good surveillance during the massive event, law enforcement agencies tracked and apprehended him in Prayagraj's Civil Lines district.
SP Manglik confirmed the arrest, underlining how sustained vigilance is important in finding wanted people. “Yadav’s arrival at Prayagraj to take a holy dip inadvertently exposed him to surveillance,” the officer said.