Cops rely on ‘reverse investigation’ to hunt absconders

Mumbai police monitors cases of people jumping parole or furlough on a regular basis, said deputy commissioner of police (detection) and spokesperson for Mumbai police Nisar Tamboli.

Mumbai police monitors cases of people jumping parole or furlough on a regular basis, said deputy commissioner of police (detection) and spokesperson for Mumbai police Nisar Tamboli.

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Tamboli said that while trying to locate those who jump parole or furlough, police undertake what is known as a reverse investigation and inform the police stations concerned about the incident. "Usually, the police stations that are informed include the one where the crime was committed, and the home police station of the accused," he said.

When an under-trial or a convict goes missing, police first contact the family, along with the person who has stood guarantor for the bail of the accused. Police also check on the person's advocate, Tamboli said. He added that a case is registered immediately once it is known that a person has gone missing.

A few months ago, when the crime branch arrested Vijay Palanade, they were completely unaware of the fact that Palande was convicted in a double murder case and had jumped parole while he was at a jail in Kolhapur. After escaping, Palande fled the country to Bangkok and Europe, and is even alleged to have committed two murders.

Former IPS official and advocate YP Singh said convicts or under-trials who are released on parole or on furlough should be tagged with an electronic tracking device.

He added that there have been cases where police officers have take bribes to issue a no-objection certificate for a parole or a furlough. "There needs be to accountability and when the criminal goes missing the cop who issued the NOC should be held accountable," he said.