‘Empuraan’ actor arrested in Ahmedabad after jumping parole for 12 years in murder case

Ahmedabad: An actor associated with L2: Empuraan and several Bollywood and television projects has been arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch after allegedly remaining absconding for 12 years following a parole jump in a murder case.

The accused, identified as Hemant alias Nagindas Parshottamdas Modi Vaishnav, 53, was serving a life sentence in connection with a 2005 murder case registered in Ahmedabad’s Naroda area before he allegedly jumped parole in 2014 and disappeared.

Police said the accused was arrested near the Gheekanta Metro Station in Ahmedabad on Wednesday following a tip-off.

According to Ahmedabad Crime Branch Police Inspector P M Dhakhra, the actor managed to stay hidden for years while continuing to work openly in the entertainment industry under a changed identity.

“Yesterday, Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested an accused named Hemant Nagindas Modi, who had been on the run for 12 years after jumping parole. He was convicted in a murder case and remained in jail until 2014, after which he jumped parole. He had been wanted for 12 years. During this period, the accused played various roles in the film industry and was also quite active on social media. Many of his web series were also released,” Dhakhra told mediapersons.

“The Ahmedabad Crime Branch received a tip-off yesterday that this wanted accused had arrived in Ahmedabad. Consequently, our branch apprehended him in Ahmedabad yesterday,” he added.

Police said the accused had initially stayed away from Ahmedabad and avoided using mobile phones or social media to escape detection.

“Initially, to conceal his phone number and identity, he avoided Ahmedabad altogether. He stayed in Patan and the surrounding areas before moving to Bombay. Since he didn't use social networking or mobile phones, we couldn't track him using technology. Later, based on information from local informers about his arrival in Ahmedabad, he was caught yesterday,” Dhakhra said.

Investigators revealed that during his years as a fugitive, the actor remained actively involved in films, web series, television serials and theatre productions.

According to the Crime Branch, his work included appearances in films such as Thugs of Hindostan and Jayeshbhai Jordaar, while he had also reportedly worked in upcoming projects including Lahore 1947, Metro In Dino and L2: Empuraan.

Police also said he appeared in television shows such as Wagle Ki Duniya and Mere Sai, besides performing in plays including ‘Yugpurush’ and ‘Gandhi Viruddh Godse’.

A case against the accused had been registered under Sections 302, 324, 147, 148, 149 and 120(B) of the IPC along with Section 135(1) of the BP Act.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has now sent the accused back to Mehsana Jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.