New Delhi, July 5: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the last absconding accused in the 2002 Garhwa Fort idol theft and murder case, bringing to a close a nearly 24-year-long manhunt linked to one of India’s major heritage crime investigations.
According to the CBI, the accused, Ramnarayan alias Hyder, was arrested on July 4, 2026, from Naseerpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district. He had been evading arrest in a case involving dacoity, murder, and theft of an ancient stone idol from the protected Garhwa Fort, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monument in Prayagraj.
The case was originally registered in 2002 at Shankargarh Police Station and was later taken over by the CBI on September 9, 2003, for a detailed investigation.
Watchman Killed During Fort Robbery
The CBI investigation revealed that on the night of April 21–22, 2002, an 11-member gang, allegedly led by Vijay Kumar Shukla, stormed the historic Garhwa Fort.
During the robbery, the gang allegedly murdered watchman Vinod Kumar Srivastava after assaulting and gagging him, overpowered another security guard, broke into the storeroom, and stole a valuable stone idol of Lord Buddha. The idol reportedly broke into two pieces while being removed from the protected site.
Stolen Buddha Idol Allegedly Smuggled Abroad
Investigators found that the idol fragments were transported in a vehicle and allegedly sold by the prime accused for ₹2.20 lakh. The idol was later shifted to a warehouse in Mahipalpur, Delhi, before being allegedly smuggled out of the country.
CBI Filed Chargesheet Against 10 Accused
Following an extensive probe, the CBI filed a chargesheet on December 22, 2005, against 10 accused persons, including four absconders—Vijay Kumar Shukla, Ravi Karan, Suraj Bhan, and Ramnarayan alias Hyder.
Sustained Search Operations Led to Breakthrough
The agency said dedicated teams conducted continuous surveillance, intelligence gathering, and follow-up operations to trace the fugitives.
As part of the operation, Suraj Bhan was arrested on May 22, 2026, while Ravi Karan was arrested on June 2, 2026. The prime accused, Vijay Kumar Shukla, has already been traced to District Jail, Chitrakoot, where he is lodged in another Uttar Pradesh Police case. The CBI has initiated legal proceedings before the competent court in Lucknow to secure his production in the present case.
All Absconding Accused Traced
With the arrest of Ramnarayan alias Hyder, the CBI has confirmed that all absconding accused in the Garhwa Fort idol theft and murder case have now been traced. The agency said all accused will be produced before the court and face trial in accordance with law, marking a significant milestone in the investigation of the decades-old heritage crime. (KNC)
