In a dramatic breakthrough, a murder convict from Kerala who had escaped in a filmy style and was hiding in Mumbai disguised as a ragpicker has been arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). The accused had managed to evade police for nearly three months before being nabbed. He has now been handed over to the Kerala Police.
The arrested accused has been identified as Vinish (25), a resident of Malappuram, Kerala. He was convicted in a 2021 murder case registered at Perinthalmanna Police Station.
According to RPF officials, Vinish was lodged in jail when his mental health reportedly deteriorated. He was subsequently admitted to a mental hospital for treatment. However, on December 29, 2025, he managed to escape from the hospital by deceiving both the police personnel and hospital authorities.
After his escape, the accused cleverly changed locations multiple times to avoid detection. He first travelled from Kerala to Nagpur by train and later reached Mumbai. Investigations revealed that upon arriving in Mumbai, he adopted the identity of a ragpicker to remain under the radar. He survived by moving across different parts of the city, collecting waste and avoiding suspicion.
Meanwhile, a special team of Kerala Police had been continuously searching for him. During the investigation, inputs suggested that he had been spotted in Nashik and Kalyan, where he wandered for a few days. Despite multiple leads, he managed to evade arrest each time.
A major breakthrough came on April 10, 2026, when the RPF received a tip-off from a reliable informer that the accused was sitting near the ‘Thank You Gate’ outside CSMT station. Acting swiftly, the RPF team laid a trap and confirmed his identity using photographs. When approached, the Accused attempted to flee but was quickly surrounded and apprehended by the team.
During interrogation, Vinish confessed to his identity, his involvement in the murder case, and his escape from the hospital. The Kerala Police were immediately informed, following which a team reached Mumbai the same day. After completing all legal formalities, the accused was taken into custody by the Kerala Police around 11:30 pm.