The Saree-Clad Fugitive: How a Notorious Criminal Fooled the Police—Until One Mistake Changed Everything

A Scene Straight Out of a Bollywood Thriller

It was a scene that could have been ripped straight from a Bollywood crime caper: a notorious criminal, desperate to evade the law, dons a saree, blouse, and even a mangalsutra, hiding his identity behind a heavy veil. But this was no movie. This was the real-life drama that played out on the streets of Jodhpur, Rajasthan—a story that has since set social media ablaze, left the police both baffled and triumphant, and given the entire nation a glimpse into the extraordinary lengths a man will go to escape justice.

The Viral CCTV Footage: A Man in Disguise

The CCTV footage that surfaced online was both shocking and darkly comic. There, in grainy black-and-white, was a man—later identified as the infamous history-sheeter Dayashankar—being dragged out of a narrow alleyway by Rajasthan police officers. But it wasn’t just any arrest: Dayashankar, wanted for a string of violent crimes, was dressed head-to-toe in traditional women’s attire. The mangalsutra glinted around his neck, his saree was perfectly draped, and his face was hidden under a deep veil. For a few moments, he almost pulled off the charade.

But the police were not fooled for long. As the video shows, officers gripped his arms and legs, dragging him out as he struggled—his disguise slipping, both literally and figuratively. The footage went viral, sparking a frenzy of memes, debates, and disbelief across India.

How Did It Come to This? The Making of a Mastermind

To understand how such a bizarre scene unfolded, we must go back to the beginning. Dayashankar was no ordinary petty thief. Over the years, he had built a fearsome reputation in Jodhpur’s underworld. Assault, armed robbery, extortion—his rap sheet was long and blood-stained. Locals spoke his name in hushed tones, and even the police admitted he was a slippery customer, always one step ahead.

He was, in the language of Indian law enforcement, a “history-sheeter”—a habitual offender with a criminal record so thick it needed its own file. For years, Dayashankar had managed to evade capture, using every trick in the book. Sometimes he’d vanish into the labyrinthine lanes of the city; other times, he’d bribe his way out of trouble. But as his crimes grew bolder, so did the police’s determination to catch him.

The Police Close In: Cat and Mouse

The hunt for Dayashankar intensified after his most recent crime—a brutal attack in which he allegedly tried to kill a man with a broken bottle. The city was on edge, and the pressure on the police was mounting. Repeated raids on his known hideouts yielded nothing but frustration. Each time, neighbors would tell the same story: “He was here, but he’s gone now. We don’t know where.”

But the police were not about to give up. They beefed up their informant network, watching and waiting for Dayashankar to slip up. And then, finally, a tip came in—a whisper that he had returned to his home, but that he had a new trick up his sleeve. This time, he was disguising himself as a woman.

The Sting: A Knock on the Door

It was early morning when the police surrounded Dayashankar’s house. They knocked on the door, ready for anything. What they saw when the door opened, however, threw them off their game for a moment: a woman, head covered in a heavy veil, stood before them. She gestured frantically, pointing towards the bedroom, indicating that “her husband” had just fled out the back.

The officers, momentarily convinced, began searching the house. They looked under beds, in wardrobes, behind curtains—everywhere but at the trembling “woman” who stood silently, refusing to speak. But something felt off. The “woman” kept gesturing, urging the police to look elsewhere, never uttering a word.

The Moment of Truth: Unveiling the Lie

Just as the police were about to leave, a senior officer paused. “Ask her name,” he said, his instincts kicking in. When the veiled figure refused to answer, only gesturing more frantically, suspicion grew. “Speak up! Who are you?” the officer demanded.

The silence was deafening. The “woman” tried to keep up the act, but the officers were now circling. One of them reached out and lifted the veil.

The truth was undeniable. There, beneath the saree and mangalsutra, was Dayashankar himself—caught in the most humiliating way possible. The room erupted in chaos as the officers grabbed him, ignoring his desperate attempts to wriggle free. The scene that followed—Dayashankar being dragged out of his house, still in women’s clothing—was immortalized on CCTV, soon to become the most-watched clip in India.

The Aftermath: A City Reacts

News of Dayashankar’s arrest spread like wildfire. Social media exploded with reactions—some incredulous, some amused, all shocked. Memes flooded Twitter and Instagram, with hashtags like #SareeBandit and #VeiledVillain trending for days.

But beneath the laughter lay a deeper truth: Dayashankar’s arrest was a testament to both the ingenuity of criminals and the dogged persistence of the police. For years, he had used every trick imaginable to evade capture. This time, he had gone too far—and the law had finally caught up.

The Police Speak Out: “He Fooled Us Once, Not Again”

In the days that followed, Rajasthan police held a press conference, eager to set the record straight. “Dayashankar was a master of disguise,” said the DCP. “We had heard rumors that he’d escaped before by dressing as a woman, but this was the first time we caught him red-handed. It was only because our officers refused to take things at face value that we were able to unmask him.”

They described how Dayashankar had, on previous occasions, slipped past checkpoints and even spent days hiding in plain sight, dressed in sarees and veils. “He would even change his voice, but this time, he was too nervous to speak,” said one officer. “That’s what gave him away.”

A Criminal’s Last Stand: Inside the Mind of Dayashankar

What drives a man to go to such lengths? Friends and former associates of Dayashankar described him as cunning, ruthless, and utterly unafraid of the law. “He always thought he was smarter than the police,” said one neighbor. “He used to brag that they’d never catch him. He thought he could fool anyone.”

But in the end, it was his own arrogance that proved his undoing. By relying too heavily on his disguise, he underestimated the instincts of seasoned cops. “He thought a saree and a veil would be enough,” said the DCP. “He was wrong.”

The Cost of Crime: A Family Torn Apart

The arrest had devastating consequences for Dayashankar’s family. His wife and children, who had lived in fear for years, were left to face the shame and scrutiny of the neighborhood. “We just want to live in peace,” his wife told reporters, tears streaming down her face. “We begged him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen.”

Neighbors, once too afraid to speak out, now recounted stories of intimidation and violence. “He ruled this street like a king,” said one. “But he brought nothing but misery.”

A Wake-Up Call for Law Enforcement

Dayashankar’s arrest was a moment of triumph for Rajasthan police, but it also served as a wake-up call. “Criminals are getting smarter,” said the DCP. “We need to be smarter, too. No matter how clever they think they are, we will find them.”

The incident prompted calls for better training, more resources, and a renewed commitment to public safety. “This is not just about one man,” said the police chief. “It’s about sending a message: No one is above the law.”

The Nation Watches: A Symbol of Hope and Warning

For ordinary Indians, the story of the saree-clad fugitive became a symbol—of both the dangers lurking in society and the resilience of those tasked with keeping us safe. “It’s funny, yes,” said one commentator. “But it’s also a reminder that crime doesn’t pay, no matter how clever you think you are.”

Parents shared the story with their children as a cautionary tale. Teachers discussed it in classrooms. Even Bollywood stars weighed in, some jokingly offering Dayashankar a role in their next film.

The Road Ahead: Justice and Redemption

As Dayashankar sits in jail, stripped of his disguises and bravado, the city of Jodhpur breathes a little easier. But the scars of his crimes remain. For his victims, justice has finally caught up—but the healing will take time.

The police, emboldened by their success, have vowed to continue their crackdown on crime. “There are more like him out there,” said the DCP. “But let this be a warning: We are watching. And we will not rest until our streets are safe.”

The Veil Has Lifted

In the end, Dayashankar’s story is one of hubris and downfall—a man who believed he could hide from justice behind a saree and a veil, only to be unmasked by the persistence of those sworn to uphold the law.

It is a story that has captivated a nation, sparked laughter and outrage, and reminded us all that, in the end, the truth will always come out.

And as the world watched Dayashankar being dragged through the streets, his saree in tatters and his secrets exposed, one thing became clear: No disguise is strong enough to hide from justice forever.