A fugitive chain snatcher who evaded capture for 34 years has been arrested by the Ahmedabad crime branch, but legal proceedings face uncertainty as the original case file is missing.
Ashok Thakor, now 59, was apprehended in Surendranagar, where he had been living as a scrap dealer. He had been on the run since 1991 after snatching a gold chain from a woman on June 16 that year in Odhav. His accomplices, Pappu Sharma and Janak Panchal, were arrested soon after the crime, but Thakor managed to escape.
The breakthrough came when the city crime branch, determined to resolve undetected cases, focused on Thakor’s case. The officers had limited details: his name, the offence, and the date of the crime.
Inspector Imran Ghasura led the operation, with sub-inspector K S Sisodia, known for his expertise in old files, spearheading the investigation.
Thakor was traced to Surendranagar after officers followed leads from villages and local sources. He was confronted near Ratanpar bypass, where he initially identified himself as Ramesh Koli. However, his son’s reaction exposed the deception, leading to his arrest.
Thakor, once part of a notorious chain-snatching gang that operated across Ahmedabad in the late 1980s and early 1990s, had led a vastly different life in recent years, earning a meagre living by collecting and selling scrap. Unlike his past, when he allegedly spent his stolen wealth on alcohol and extravagant meals, he was now struggling to make ends meet.
The legal proceedings, however, face a challenge. The case file, including the FIR, witness statements, and court documents, is missing.
According to a media report, Odhav police officials have admitted they have no records of the case. “It’s like a ghost case now,” a senior officer stated.
“We caught the man, but we have no paperwork to present in court. Without the FIR or statements, it’s as good as a story passed down orally.”
With both of Thakor’s co-accused deceased and several potential witnesses likely no longer alive, the case’s future remains uncertain.
Sources indicate that even the trial court has no record of the case, further complicating legal proceedings.
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