How Was the Elusive Accused Captured After a Decade in the 5000 kg Nut Theft Case?

Synopsis
After ten years of eluding the authorities, Ravi Soni was finally caught for his role in a massive theft at the Bhilai Steel Plant. This captivating story sheds light on how law enforcement utilized fresh intel to track down the last suspect in a case that had stumped them for years.
Key Takeaways
- Ravi Soni has been arrested after a decade of evasion.
- The stolen items included five industrial nuts weighing 4,674 kilograms each.
- These nuts were crucial for large-scale industrial operations.
- The case originated from a complaint filed in 2015.
- Police utilized fresh intelligence to track down the suspect.
Bhilai, May 19 (NationPress) After a decade-long pursuit, law enforcement successfully apprehended Ravi Soni, the final suspect involved in the theft of five enormous industrial nuts, each weighing approximately 5,000 kilograms, from the Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh.
Soni had been on the run since his participation in the crime. His lengthy evasion came to an end when police acted upon new intelligence and located him at his hideout.
Along with four accomplices, Soni had plotted the theft of these five massive industrial nuts from the spare yard of the plate mill, with a total worth of an astounding Rs 65 lakh.
While his co-conspirators had already faced arrest, Soni had managed to remain elusive until now.
The stolen nuts were not ordinary items; each weighed an impressive 4,674 kilograms and was specifically engineered for large-scale industrial applications. Their theft represented a significant loss for the plant.
This case traces back to June 23, 2015, when the Deputy General Manager of the plate mill lodged a complaint at the Bhatti police station.
“He reported the theft of the five nuts, which initiated an investigation by law enforcement. Following leads, the police registered the case under multiple sections against the suspects,” an investigation officer from Bhatti police station disclosed to IANS.
The officer elaborated, “A case was filed against five suspects under sections 379, 447, 467, 468, 471, 120B, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, leading to significant findings regarding the crime.”
Investigators revealed that the theft had involved a truck with the registration number CG 07 AV 2670. The vehicle was confiscated, and further inquiries uncovered that the criminals had forged a challan to illegally enter the steel plant. Once inside, they quickly removed the nuts from the spare yard and fled.
After the investigation, authorities arrested four of the accused. “The remaining suspects were already in judicial custody. Meanwhile, Soni remained at large until his arrest on Sunday,” the officer stated.
“We received intelligence indicating that he was hiding in Jamul village. Acting promptly, a team was sent to the location, where they executed a raid and successfully apprehended him.”
Soni was later presented in court and has been placed in judicial custody, concluding a case that had lingered unresolved for years. The other suspects had previously secured bail, the officer mentioned.