After absconding for 16 days, the man who threw acid on a 25-year-old girl was arrested from Tamil Nadu on Friday. Police sources said that Nagesh Babu was arrested from Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, where he had attended an event.
On April 28, Nagesh threw acid on the woman in the office. The victim suffered around 30% burns and is recovering in a hospital. She has been operated on twice and is in ICU, but is stable.
He had fled the scene and remained elusive, despite the massive search being launched. The police recovered his mobile and bike which he had left behind on the outskirts of the city. Police said he cut all contact with his family and friends and turned out to be a tough nut to crack.
“While talking to his friends and family, we came to know that he would favor religious places. Our teams were searching most of the top pilgrimage cities across the country including Uttarakhand. Our teams had gone to Tiruvannamalai earlier also but returned empty handed. But on Friday, the interrogation in the temple town was successful,” said Sanjeev Patil, DCP (West). It is not yet known when he went to the ashram.
Police investigation revealed that Nagesh, who worked in a garment factory, had been stalking the victim for seven years and when she repeatedly turned her down, he planned and attacked her with acid. Sources said he had also planned to flee the city.