Reward of ₹5,000 Leads to Arrest of Tarun Jaiswal in High‑Profile Rape Case

The state‑run reward of ₹5,000 promised for information on Tarun Jaiswal’s whereabouts finally paid off when police in Patna seized the fugitive on Wednesday night. Jaiswal, wanted for the rape of a 14‑year‑old tribal girl from Sarguja, had evaded capture for weeks, sparking protests from tribal rights groups and opposition parties.

CCTV footage from a location in Patna showed the suspect with a female companion. Mobile‑phone tracking identified the companion’s device broadcasting from the city, allowing the Patna police to coordinate a rapid raid with their Sarguja counterparts. Both were placed under custody and escorted to the Sarguja district for interrogation.

Earlier that day, a sizable crowd gathered outside the Sarguja police superintendent’s office, accusing officials of deliberately slowing the investigation. The demonstrators, undeterred by a downpour, demanded immediate action. The SSP, Rajesh Agarwal, addressed the protesters, stating that the reward had generated leads that led to the arrest, and the demonstration tapered off shortly after the announcement.

According to police statements, the minor was employed as a domestic helper at Jaiswal’s residence. On 20 July, while the house was empty, the accused allegedly forced the girl to watch explicit videos before assaulting her. The terrified child narrated the incident to her family, who promptly lodged a complaint.

Investigators also uncovered an attempted second abduction, during which Jaiswal threatened the victim’s relatives when they resisted. The family alleges the accused tried to bribe them to silence the case and criticized the police for not filing a First Information Report (FIR) promptly, which allowed him to flee.

Before his capture, the police had seized a 12‑bore double‑barrel shotgun from his premises and initiated the process to revoke his firearms licence. Additional inquiries into his immovable assets and illegal structures on government land are underway.

With Jaiswal now in custody, law‑enforcement officers are conducting detailed interrogations to map the entire crime network and explore any further illegal activities linked to the case.