A long-standing fugitive who assumed a fake identity in Jhansi and ran a spiritual court under the moniker Kaali Sarkar has landed behind bars in Uttar Pradesh. Pradeep Shukla, wanted in legal cases dating back nearly 31 years, was apprehended by the Kotwali City police in Hardoi district. The accused had managed to evade arrest and judicial proceedings for over three decades before police tracked him down during a targeted drive against absconders.
Multiple Aliases and a Deceptive Life in Jhansi
Official police records indicate that Pradeep Shukla operated under multiple pseudonyms, including Natroj and Kaali Pandit. In Jhansi, however, he had completely reinvented his persona, becoming widely recognized as Satyanand Shukla, alias Kaali Sarkar. Under this guise, he established a regular darbar, drawing followers while keeping his criminal history hidden. Law enforcement authorities consider his arrest a major breakthrough, given the exceptional length of time he managed to stay off the radar while maintaining a high-profile public presence under an assumed name.
History-Sheeter from Hardoi’s Kotwali City
The arrested individual has been formally identified as Pradeep Shukla, alias Natroj, alias Kaali Pandit, son of Maya Ram, residing in the Chauhan Thok (also referred to as Chauhanthok) locality within the Kotwali City police station limits in Hardoi. Authorities confirmed that he is a listed history-sheeter of Kotwali City police station. Courts had previously issued standing non-bailable warrants against him due to his prolonged absence from legal proceedings, as he continuously changed appearances, names, and locations to evade custody.
Remanded to Judicial Custody by Court
According to City Circle Officer Ajit Chauhan, the arrest was executed under a dedicated district-wide campaign launched on the directives of the Superintendent of Police to apprehend wanted criminals and warrant subjects. Chauhan stated that the police team pursued effective legal follow-up in court to secure the warrants against the history-sheeter. Following this, an operational team consisting of Sub-Inspector Devesh Sharma and Head Constable Arpit Tomar took Shukla into custody. After completing initial documentation, the police produced him before the court, which ordered him remanded to judicial custody, with further legal proceedings now underway.
