The luck finally ran out on Tuesday for Nikhil Priyadarshi, a noted automobile businessman of Patna, and his father Krishna Bihari Prasad, a retired IAS officer.
Priyadarshi, accused of raping a former Congress minister's minor daughter, was on the run since December 22 last year. Priyadarshi and his father were arrested by Uttarakhand police during a routine a check-up round for outsiders in Rishikesh on Tuesday.
Talking to Millennium Post, Pauri Garhwal SSP Mukhtar Mohsin, a batchmate of his Patna counterpart Manu Maharaj, said, "The duo were arrested during a routine check up round in Chila locality under Lakshman Jhoola police station. As the policemen noticed an Audi car with registration number of Haryana, cops asked necessary documents from them to establish their identities, which both failed to provide."
Given that the vehicle was registered in the name of Priyadarshi Group, Mohsin did a Google search and was surprised to see the results as duo, who were dodging the police for several months in many cases, were infront of him. Then the Pauri Garhwal SSP called his Patna counterpart to verify the duo's credentials, which proved to be a big Holi gift for Manu Maharaj.
Nikhil had been on the run, ever since the girl lodged a case with the Patna police on December 22. The arrest of the prime accused heaved a sigh of relief for the special investigation team (SIT) of the Bihar police, who was having relentless pressure to act and arrest.
Excited over the arrest, Patna SSP Manu Maharaj told Millennium Post that it's a big catch. "The arrest will help us in solving the case. The Bihar police was in regular touch with Uttarakhand counterpart. We had the tip-off about their presence in the state and our team was based at the state's border."