Jalandhar, Punjab: In a shocking twist, Punjab Police have arrested a man who was officially declared dead four years ago, uncovering an elaborate plot involving fake documents and identity theft.
The accused, Himanshu, a resident of Railway Colony, Jalandhar, had been serving a life sentence for the gang rape and robbery of a 13-year-old girl in 2018. Police revealed that he had been on the run since 2021, after absconding during parole.
Faked Death After Absconding on Parole
According to police, Himanshu was released from jail on parole on October 8, 2021. When his parole period ended, he never returned to prison.
Instead, he orchestrated a fake death, using a forged death certificate allegedly arranged with the help of an unidentified accomplice. The prison administration accepted the certificate, officially marking him as deceased and removing his name from prison records.
New Identity, New Life in Suranassi
After faking his death, Himanshu moved in with his aunt in Suranassi, where he lived under a new name and identity.
He reportedly grew a beard and altered his appearance to avoid recognition. Locals in the area knew him by his assumed name, unaware of his criminal past or the fact that he was officially dead.
Tip-Off Leads to Arrest
The deception unraveled recently when police received an anonymous tip claiming that a man listed as dead was living in Suranassi.
Investigators verified the information and found inconsistencies in Himanshu’s supposed death records. Following a raid by Division Number One Police Station, officers arrested Himanshu from his aunt’s home.
During interrogation, he confessed to faking his death to evade prison.
Police Begin Wider Probe
Police have now taken Himanshu on remand for further questioning to identify the source of the fake death certificate and any officials or associates involved in the conspiracy.
Investigators are also probing whether his aunt was complicit or unaware that she was sheltering an escaped convict.
“We are investigating how the forged death certificate was created and accepted by the authorities,” a senior police official said.
Background: The Heinous 2018 Crime
Himanshu was convicted in 2018 for the gang rape and robbery of a 13-year-old girl in Jalandhar’s Maksuda area.
He and his brother-in-law, Durgesh Yadav, posed as gas workers to enter the victim’s home, where they raped the child and stole cash and jewelry.
The next day, they also robbed a 70-year-old woman in the same locality. Both were arrested within 24 hours and later sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹5 lakh each.