Bareilly, November 28, 2025 — A 70-year-old murder convict, who vanished from Uttar Pradesh over three decades ago after securing parole and carefully reinventing his identity, has finally been apprehended by Bareilly police. Pradeep Kumar Saxena, convicted in 1989 for murdering his brother Sanjeev two years prior, had managed to evade the law for 36 years by changing his name, appearance, and even his religion.

Police officials confirmed that Saxena was arrested on Thursday from Delapeer Mandi in Bareilly after a brief but intensive search operation. Over the years, Saxena had been living under the alias Abdul Raheem in Moradabad district, working quietly as a driver and maintaining a low profile to avoid detection.

Creating a New Identity

According to Prem Nagar police, Saxena had been granted parole in 1989 but never returned to serve the remainder of his sentence. “After jumping parole, he deliberately altered his appearance, grew a long beard, and even converted to Islam to prevent authorities from tracing him,” an officer said. Saxena’s meticulous efforts allowed him to live undisturbed for decades, blending into his new community while maintaining a semblance of normalcy.

The case resurfaced when the Allahabad High Court, while hearing Saxena’s long-pending criminal appeal, issued an order on October 16 directing that he be arrested and produced before the Bareilly court within four weeks. Acting on the court’s instructions, the Bareilly police quickly formed a special team and launched a targeted search operation.

Tracking Decades of Evasion

Police investigations revealed that Saxena had left his parental home in Kasva, Bareilly, roughly 30 years ago. His brother, Suresh Babu, informed authorities that Saxena had moved to Moradabad’s Karula area, adopted a new identity as Abdul Raheem, and worked as a driver. Residents in the area, referring to him locally as “Saxena Driver,” helped police confirm his long-term presence in the community under this assumed identity.

The breakthrough came after officers verified recent movements through Transport Nagar, learning that Saxena had returned to Bareilly earlier the same day. A tip-off from an informant about a suspicious man near Delapeer Mandi finally led to Saxena’s capture. When approached by police, he initially identified himself as Abdul Raheem but eventually admitted his true identity after being confronted with old records and evidence.

The Arrest and Official Statement

“He stated that he was released on parole in 1989, after which he shifted to Moradabad,” a press statement from Bareilly police read. “To avoid court proceedings, he converted his religion in 2002 and changed his name to Abdul Raheem, also known locally as Saxena Driver.”

Authorities confirmed that Saxena will now be presented before the court to address the pending criminal proceedings stemming from his original conviction. The police team praised the combination of community intelligence, informant tips, and persistent investigative work for finally bringing the fugitive to justice after more than three decades.

Saxena’s case is notable for the extent of his evasion efforts, including personal transformation and the deliberate assumption of a completely new identity. It highlights both the challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking long-term absconders and the importance of persistent legal oversight, as reinforced by the High Court’s intervention.