Madhya Pradesh Man Arrested After 45 Years For Alleged Theft Of 90 Kg Wheat Worth Rs 184

In a remarkable development highlighting the long reach of the law, police in Madhya Pradesh have arrested a 59-year-old man who had allegedly been absconding for over four decades in connection with a wheat theft case dating back to 1980. The accused, identified as Salim, was detained in the Bag area of Dhar district during a special operation aimed at tracing long-pending warrant holders.

According to officials, the case involved the alleged theft of 90 kilograms of wheat valued at Rs 184 at the time, when the price was approximately Rs 2.05 per kilogram. The grain had reportedly been stored in a field near the Balsamud region, about 80 kilometres from Khargone district, where the original complaint was filed. Seven individuals were named as accused in the incident, and warrants were issued shortly afterward. Over the years, two of the accused died and four others obtained bail, while Salim remained untraceable until now.

Police said the arrest was made as part of a targeted campaign to identify and apprehend permanent absconders in old criminal cases. Investigators revealed that Salim had been living under a concealed identity in Bag, a town located roughly 90 kilometres from the alleged crime scene. During this period, he reportedly operated a small grocery shop with his son and managed to avoid detection for decades.

The breakthrough came when officers revisited the case while searching for another absconding suspect. During inquiries in Dewas, they discovered that one of the accused had already passed away. Further questioning of relatives led police to information suggesting that Salim was residing in Dhar district, eventually resulting in his arrest. He was later produced before a local court in Kasrawad and remanded to judicial custody.

Authorities quoted Salim as saying he believed the case had been forgotten with time and that he assumed the police would no longer pursue the matter after so many years. However, the arrest has sparked debate, with his family questioning the circumstances surrounding the decades-old case. His wife alleged that Salim was a minor at the time of the incident and claimed that the family had lived openly in their hometown without prior police action.

Legal experts note that long-pending warrants can remain active unless formally closed by courts, allowing authorities to act even after many years. At the same time, the case has raised questions about procedural delays, the treatment of alleged juvenile offenders, and the practicality of pursuing minor theft allegations decades later.

The unusual arrest has drawn public attention across the region, highlighting both the persistence of law enforcement in tracking absconders and the complex legal issues that can arise when old cases resurface after generations.