65-Year-Old MP Man Arrested After Nearly Five Decades For Stealing Wheat Worth Rs 100

Nearly five decades after a minor theft, a 65-year-old man in Madhya Pradesh has been arrested, giving closure to the unexpectedly long-running case.

The incident took place in 1980 in the Balsamund Kakad area near Balkhad village of Khargone district when seven young men, including Salim, son of Mujid, allegedly entered agricultural fields at night and took wheat valued at about Rs 100.

When they stole the wheat, a quintal of good-quality of the crop cost around Rs 115. This means the stolen grain would have amounted to only a few kilograms, barely a small sack.

What appeared to be a small act, possibly driven by need or youthful mischief, later turned into a decades-long police pursuit.

Soon after the theft, Salim and his family left the village

and moved to the neighbouring Dhar district, where he settled in the Bag area. O

Over the years he lived quietly, ran a small shop, and raised a family, seemingly believing the past had been left behind.

Meanwhile, the case remained in police records, lying dormant as officers changed and time passed.

The investigation was revived during a statewide campaign conducted from January 1 to 31 to trace absconders and clear long-pending cases.

During the drive, authorities reviewed old warrants, and one of Salim’s former associates shared information about his location.

“Police teams from the Khaltaka outpost acted on the lead and arrested him on Saturday,” said Shweta Shukla, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Mandleshwar.

Officials explained that although the theft was minor, the involvement of seven people made it notable at the time.

The recent push to resolve pending cases finally brought attention back to the decades-old file.

Salim has been booked under the provision for theft, earlier Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code, now covered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and was produced before a court.