Gujarat undertrial couple held after 3 years on the run under Operation Karavas
Synopsis
For nearly three years, a couple facing serious charges including POCSO and rape evaded police across Gujarat by disguising themselves as beggars outside temples. Ahmedabad Crime Branch's Operation Karavas finally caught up with them under a bridge in Ramol — a reminder of how long undertrial bail jumpers can slip through the cracks.
Key Takeaways
Ashok alias Maharaj Patel, 48 , and Renuka Patel, 51 were arrested on 3 July 2025 from the CTM Bridge area, Ramol, Ahmedabad .
The couple had been absconding since 9 August 2023 , when they failed to surrender after interim bail from Ahmedabad Central Jail .
They allegedly disguised themselves and begged outside temples across Gujarat to evade detection for nearly three years .
Charges against them include offences under the POCSO Act , Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act , and multiple IPC provisions including rape and kidnapping.
Both have been handed back to Ahmedabad Central Jail to serve their remaining sentences.
The arrests were made under 'Operation Karavas' , the Ahmedabad Crime Branch's ongoing drive to apprehend absconding undertrials.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on 3 July 2025 arrested two undertrial prisoners — Ashok alias Maharaj Patel, 48, and his wife Renuka Patel, 51 — who had been absconding for nearly three years after failing to surrender following interim bail granted in August 2023. The couple was apprehended from beneath the CTM Bridge, opposite Hanuman Nagar in the Ramol area of Ahmedabad, under the Crime Branch's ongoing 'Operation Karavas' drive to trace fugitive prisoners.
How They Evaded Arrest
According to officials, the couple concealed their identities by altering their appearance and posing as beggars outside temples across different parts of Gujarat. They had been living on the footpath in the CTM area while moving between locations to avoid detection. Acting on a specific tip-off that the duo was present near the CTM Bridge, Crime Branch officers mounted surveillance and detained them.
Background of the Case
Both accused were undertrial prisoners lodged at Ahmedabad Central Jail in connection with multiple criminal cases. Ashok (undertrial prisoner No. 6737) and Renuka (undertrial prisoner No. 353) were released on interim bail on 5 August 2023 and were required to surrender at the jail on 9 August 2023. They did not return after the bail period expired and had remained at large since.
The cases against them include offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Prohibition Act.
Ashok Patel's Criminal History
Police records indicate that Ashok has a criminal history dating back to 2015, with cases registered at multiple police stations including Meghaninagar, Vejalpur, Odhav, Shahibaug, Kanbha, Ranpur, and Kapadvanj Rural. The charges span the Gujarat Gambling Act, POCSO Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and various IPC provisions — including cheating, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, rape, and forgery.
Renuka is also an accused in several of the same cases, registered at Shahibaug, Kanbha, Ranpur, and Kapadvanj Rural police stations, involving POCSO, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and IPC offences.
What Happens Next
Following their arrest, both accused were handed over to Ahmedabad Central Jail to serve the remainder of their sentences. Officials confirmed the arrests were made under 'Operation Karavas', the Crime Branch's sustained campaign to trace and apprehend undertrial prisoners who have jumped bail or gone missing. The operation signals a broader push by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch to close outstanding warrants against fugitive undertrials across Gujarat.
Point of View
Including POCSO offences. Operation Karavas is a useful enforcement tool, but the deeper fix lies in bail conditions that include verifiable check-ins and technology-assisted tracking — reforms that remain largely aspirational in most Indian states.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Ashok and Renuka Patel, and why were they arrested?
Ashok alias Maharaj Patel and Renuka Patel are an undertrial couple who were lodged at Ahmedabad Central Jail on charges including POCSO, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and IPC offences. They were arrested on 3 July 2025 after nearly three years of evading police following their failure to surrender after interim bail in August 2023.
What is Operation Karavas?
Operation Karavas is an ongoing campaign by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch to trace and apprehend undertrial prisoners who have jumped bail or gone absconding. The operation led to the arrest of Ashok and Renuka Patel after a tip-off placed them near the CTM Bridge in Ramol, Ahmedabad.
How did the couple evade arrest for nearly three years?
According to officials, the couple disguised their appearance and posed as beggars outside temples across different parts of Gujarat while living on footpaths. They moved between locations to avoid detection until a specific tip-off led Crime Branch officers to the CTM Bridge area.
What charges do Ashok and Renuka Patel face?
The charges include offences under the POCSO Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the Prohibition Act, and multiple IPC provisions — including cheating, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, rape, and forgery. Ashok's criminal record dates back to 2015 across several Ahmedabad and Gujarat police stations.
What happens to the couple now?
Both Ashok and Renuka Patel have been handed over to Ahmedabad Central Jail to serve the remainder of their sentences as undertrials pending the conclusion of their cases.
