https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted

IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Operation Hunt brought 130 absconding criminals to justice in just three months, proving no fugitive can outrun the law forever. Watch his exclusive video interview
Indian Masterminds Stories

Imagine chasing a criminal who’s been missing for 40 years. Sounds like a film script, right? But this happened for real in Valsad. Under the leadership of IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela, the district police launched Operation Hunt, a daring three-month campaign that tracked down and arrested 130 absconding criminals in just three months, many hiding for decades under false identities!

“Some of these accused thought the law had forgotten them,” recalls Dr. Vaghela. “But we wanted to send a message: justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied.”

Watch his exclusive video interview below to know how he carried on this difficult operation successfully:

PLANNING THE UNTHINKABLE

A 2012-batch Gujarat cadre officer, Dr. Vaghela was then Superintendent of Police, Valsad, and is now serving as DCP, Economic Wing, Surat City. Known for his sharp strategies, he designed Operation Hunt as a district-wide crackdown. Multiple teams were formed such as Local Crime Branch (LCB), Special Operations Group (SOG), Parole-Furlough Squad, and police stations across Valsad.

Relying on a mix of technical surveillance and human intelligence, these teams dug up leads, followed trails, and prepared for coordinated raids. Many criminals had fled Gujarat, forcing the police to conduct operations across different states. Some lived under assumed names, some in complete disguise.

“We had to think like the criminals,” says Dr. Vaghela. “Every raid was a puzzle, and cracking it gave us the edge.”

THE ARRESTS THAT SHOOK VALSAD

The results were staggering:

  • 36 criminals nabbed by the LCB
  • 16 by SOG
  • 12 by Valsad Rural
  • 10 by Vapi Town
  • 8 by Parole-Furlough Squad
  • 6 each by Valsad City and Dungri
  • Others by Bhilad, Pardi, Dharampur, Vapi GIDC, Dungra, and Umargam

In all, 130 absconders, wanted for murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and assault, were back in custody.

MORE THAN NUMBERS

For Valsad, Operation Hunt wasn’t just a campaign; it was reassurance. Families who had waited decades for justice could finally hope again. Law and order in the district stood stronger.

“This wasn’t only about statistics,” Dr. Vaghela emphasizes. “It was about closure for victims and making people feel safe.”

FROM VALSAD TO SURAT

Now in Surat, Dr. Vaghela leads the Economic Wing, focusing on frauds and financial crimes in one of India’s fastest-growing cities. Yet, the lessons of Operation Hunt remain close.

“The crimes may change, but the principle is the same: strategy, teamwork, and persistence win the battle,” he says.

Operation Hunt may sound like a thriller. But for Valsad, it was justice, finally delivered.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited AVNL 1
Leadership Updates: Salve Sandeep Recommended as Director (HR) of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited by PESB
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
RBI Deputy Governor Highlights MSMEs as Key Drivers of India’s Economic Growth, Calls for Strengthened Credit Support
Crude oil
India Boosts US Crude Oil Imports to Highest Since 2022, Steering Energy Strategy Beyond Russia
Coal-Production-resized
Govt Releases Draft Guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification to Ensure Sustainable and Safe Energy Extraction
Indian Oil Chairman
US Sanctions on Rosneft, Lukoil Prompt Indian Refiners to Rethink Russian Oil Purchases, Indian Oil Pledges Full Compliance With Global Sanctions
lVigilance+Awareness+Week+2025
BPCL Inaugurates Vigilance Awareness Week 2025, Reinforces Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Governance
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT