Udupi: Man absconding for 23 years arrested in fatal road accident case

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, July 22, 2026: Padubidri Police in Udupi district have arrested a lorry driver from Pune, Maharashtra, who had been absconding for the past 23 years after being convicted in a fatal road accident case that occurred in 2002.

The arrested accused has been identified as Vilas Shinde, a resident of Bor Utravali, Pune, Maharashtra, police said.

Accident details

According to police, on the morning of September 7, 2002, Vilas Shinde was driving a mini goods lorry at high speed and in a rash and negligent manner from Mangaluru towards Udupi on National Highway 66. Near Moolur Mosque in Bada village, within the limits of Padubidri Police Station, the lorry hit a schoolboy who was walking along the roadside.

The boy died on the spot due to the impact of the accident.

A case was registered at Padubidri Police Station, and a charge sheet was later filed before the court. After the trial, the court found Shinde guilty and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment along with a fine of ₹1,000.

Arrest after 23 years

Following the conviction, Shinde absconded and remained on the run for 23 years. The court subsequently issued an LPC warrant against him.

Acting on the directions of Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, a special police team traced the accused to Pune, where he had been working as a lorry driver. The team arrested him and produced him before the court.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Additional Superintendent of Police Sudhakar S. Nayak, Karkala Sub-Division Deputy Superintendent of Police S. Vijayaprasad, and Kapu Circle Inspector Azmath Ali. The team included Padubidri Police Station PSI Sakthivelu, Anilkumar T. Nayak, and police personnel Rajesh P., Krishnaprasad, and Sandesh Bhandary, among others.