Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested a life convict in a murder case registered at Naroda Police Station who had been absconding for nearly 12 years after jumping parole. During his years on the run, the accused allegedly changed his identity and built a parallel life as a supporting actor in Hindi and Gujarati films, web series, theatre productions, and short films while evading authorities.

The accused, identified as Hemant Nagindas Purushottamdas Modi, 53, was serving a life sentence in connection with a 2005 murder case registered at Naroda Police Station under various sections of the IPC and the Bombay Police Act. He had been lodged at Mehsana District Jail and was granted 30 days of parole by the Gujarat High Court on July 25, 2014.

However, after being released on parole, Modi failed to return to prison and remained absconding for over a decade. Police said he allegedly severed ties with his previous life, changed his identity, and relocated to Mumbai, where he entered the entertainment industry and lived as a struggling actor.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch launched surveillance and tracked his movements using technical inputs, old contacts, and confidential sources. Based on the information gathered, officers laid a watch near Ghee Kanta Metro Station and arrested him on Tuesday at around 1 pm.

Police said Modi initially attempted to conceal his identity during questioning, but sustained interrogation eventually revealed his true identity and criminal background.

Investigators said Modi worked in several film and entertainment projects during the period he remained absconding. His reported acting portfolio included appearances in Bollywood films such as Jayeshbhai Jordaar, where he played a character named “Mental”, and Thugs of Hindostan. He had also reportedly worked alongside actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Sunny Deol, and Gujarati actors Hitu Kanodia and Hiten Kumar.

Apart from films, Modi also acted in theatre productions, web series, and short films. Police said he appeared in the short film Laali, where he played the father of the lead character, along with several other supporting roles across projects.

The accused is now being sent back to Mehsana District Jail to serve the remainder of his life sentence, police said. DeshGujarat