‘Catching Charles Sobhraj was not my proudest moment’: ACP Zende reveals what defined his policing

ACP Madhukar Zende, one of Mumbai Police’s most respected officers, offered a rare, personal account of policing during the Babri Masjid demolition riots while speaking at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2026. The session, ‘Mumbai’s most wanted: the man who caught Charles Sobhraj’, was moderated by senior journalist Saraswathy Nagarajan and focused on crime, conscience and communal harmony.

Addressing his association with Charles Sobhraj, ACP Madhukar Zende made it clear that the notorious criminal did not define his career, despite public fascination with the case. Zende acknowledged that arresting Sobhraj—twice—was significant police work, but rejected the idea that it represented his greatest professional achievement. “Charles Sobhraj was just a part of my career, not my proudest moment,” Zende said.

He recalled first arresting Sobhraj in November 1971, when the criminal was still operating as a fraudster and car thief rather than the international serial killer he later became. Zende described Sobhraj as “extremely charming” and manipulative, using false identities, drugs and deception to commit crimes across cities and countries. The second arrest, years later, involved identifying him through recovered passports, concealed weapons and forged identities.

The proudest moment of my life

Reflecting on the tense period following the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, Zende described how trust, not force, helped prevent bloodshed in some of Mumbai’s most sensitive areas. “After the Babri Masjid demolition, Mumbai was on edge. I was posted in sensitive areas,” he said.

Challenging prevailing stereotypes at the time, Zende said he took a public stand against communal profiling. “I openly said that Muslims are law-abiding citizens. I even announced a reward for anyone who could prove otherwise—no one ever came.”

Recalling one of the most dangerous moments of his career, Zende described how a police vehicle was surrounded by a hostile crowd during the riots. “Once, during riots, a police vehicle was surrounded by thousands. I walked in alone, without weapons, spoke to the crowd, and diffused the situation.”

He stressed that the survival of the policemen that day was rooted in public trust, not authority. “Those constables survived because people trusted me. That is my proudest achievement.”

Zende repeatedly underlined that policing, in his view, was never about intimidation. “I always believed police work is public service. You help people without expecting anything in return. When you treat people with dignity, they come forward with information.”

The former officer linked this philosophy of trust to every major success in his career, including the arrests of international criminal Charles Sobhraj. He reminded the audience that even high-profile policing relied on ordinary citizens. “Police work is collective. I never claimed credit. From constables to hotel staff, taxi drivers, journalists—everyone contributed.”

Warning against the romanticisation of criminals in popular culture, Zende criticised media portrayals that elevate offenders into icons. “Do not glorify criminals. It sends the wrong message to society.”

Speaking about policing in the digital age, he acknowledged that crimes have evolved but said core principles remain unchanged. “Technology has changed crime. Cybercrime can empty your bank account in minutes. But the principle remains the same: serve people.”

Zende concluded with a reflective note on life, duty and moral accountability. “If you do good work, nothing bad will happen to you. If not in this life, then in another—good deeds always return. That is what the Gita teaches.”

The MBIFL 2026 session highlighted how ethical policing, courage during communal crises, and public trust shaped Mumbai’s response to one of its most volatile periods, offering timely lessons amid ongoing debates on law, order and social cohesion.