After being on the run for 18 years, the key accused in the 2007 pesticide scam case has been arrested by the Kalaburagi district police.
A case was registered by the Mudhol police on a complaint lodged by an agriculture department official, who said a three-member gang from Maharashtra’s Beed district was illegally transporting pesticides to Motakpalli village in Sedam taluk and selling them, causing loss to farmers and the state government.
The police arrested the three, Sophan Shesharao Tonde, Narayan and Siris, in September 2007 and filed charges in March 2008.
While Narayan and Siris later appeared in court, Sophan Tonde, the main accused, never attended any hearing. In 2016, the court described the case as long pending.
A special team led by Superintendent of Police Mudhol Daulat N. Kuri, acting on the instructions of Superintendent of Police Addur Srinivasalu, Additional Superintendent of Police Mahesh Meghannavar and Deputy Superintendent of Police Sangamanath Hiremath intensified efforts to trace the absconding accused.
For the past four months, the team had been conducting surveillance at multiple locations in Maharashtra, constantly tracking the movement of Sophan Tonde and finally arrested him on Thursday in Chopanwadi village of Ambajogai taluk in Beed district.
Mr. Srinivasalu lauded the team for their hard work and consistent efforts in arresting the absconding accused for a long time.
Published – 14 Nov 2025 21:07 IST
