It reads like a plot from a crime thriller, but the reality is far more unsettling. Hemant Nagindas Purushottamdas Modi, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, spent over a decade hiding in plain sight. He didn’t flee to a remote jungle or a foreign country. Instead, he reinvented himself as an actor, appearing in films alongside some of India’s biggest stars before being arrested on May 20, 2022.
The arrest took place near a metro station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, at approximately 1:00 PM. It was the end of a bizarre journey that began with a violent clash in 2005 and saw a fugitive build a career in the entertainment industry under assumed identities.
Here’s the thing: for 12 years, the film industry knew him as "Spandan Modi." They had no idea he was a wanted criminal. The twist? He wasn’t just acting; he was living a double life while authorities hunted him down.
The Crime That Started It All
To understand how a prisoner became an actor, we have to go back to June 15, 2005. In the Naroda area of Ahmedabad, a dispute over an illegal construction site turned deadly. Hemant Modi, along with his brother Sachin Nagindas Modi and five others, attacked Ajay Ramabhai Patel and his friend Narendra "Nanno" Yashvant Kamble.
The violence resulted in Patel’s death and left Kamble injured. The charges were severe: murder and rioting. After a legal process that lasted three years, a court found Hemant and his co-accused guilty on August 27, 2008. They were sentenced to life imprisonment. Hemant was sent to Sabarmati Central Prison in Ahmedabad.
Life behind bars seemed certain. But then came parole.
Vanishing Act: The Parole Jump
In 2014, Hemant was granted temporary release on parole. This is where the story takes a dark turn. Instead of returning to prison when his parole period ended, he vanished. He jumped bail and went underground.
Most fugitives try to disappear completely. Hemant did something different. He changed his look, altered his identity, and decided to stay visible—but as someone else. First, he moved to Patan, Gujarat, living under the name "Twinkle Mukundbhai Dave" for about a year. He worked in local theater groups, blending into the community as a performing artist.
But theater wasn’t enough. He moved back to Ahmedabad, adopting the name "Twinkle Mukund Dave." He took jobs in private companies to create a veneer of legitimacy, presenting himself as a regular employee while secretly planning his next move.
Reinvention as 'Spandan Modi'
The real transformation happened when he entered the professional entertainment sector. He adopted the stage name "Spandan Modi" and began auditioning for roles. His plan was meticulous. According to reports from ThePrint, his strategy was so careful that no one in the TV or film industry suspected his true background.
He didn’t aim for leading roles immediately. He started small, taking supporting parts in Gujarati films and television serials. Over time, his credits grew impressive. By the time of his arrest, his resume included:
- 20 Gujarati films
- One web series (reportedly titled "Taskeeri," featuring actor Imran Hashmi)
- Two Hindi TV serials
- Four Gujarati TV serials
- 17 Gujarati stage plays, including productions like "Yugpurush," "Gandhi," and "Viruddh Godse"
He even worked in Bollywood. Reports indicate he appeared in supporting roles in films starring superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, and Sara Ali Khan. He shuttled between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, maintaining two lives simultaneously. To his colleagues, he was just another hardworking character actor named Spandan.
The Crack in the Facade
How does a fugitive get caught after 12 years? Sometimes, it’s not high-tech surveillance that finds you—it’s a familiar face in the crowd.
According to police sources, someone recognized him while watching a film or play in Ahmedabad. The tip-off went to the Crime Branch of Gujarat Police. Investigators didn’t take chances. They analyzed his social media profiles, audition tapes, and film clips. They cross-referenced his physical appearance with old records.
The digital footprint he created as an actor ultimately betrayed him. While he thought he had erased his past, the internet remembers everything. Once the connection was made between "Spandan Modi" and the convicted murderer Hemant Modi, the net closed in.
Arrest and Aftermath
On May 20, 2022, officers moved in. Hemant was arrested near a metro station in Ahmedabad around 1:00 PM. There was no dramatic chase scene—just the quiet efficiency of law enforcement closing a long-running case.
Following his arrest, he was transferred to Mehsana District Jail to serve the remainder of his life sentence. The investigation isn’t over yet. Authorities are now looking into his network during those 12 years. Who helped him hide? Did anyone in the industry know? These questions remain open as investigators dig deeper.
This case raises uncomfortable questions about security protocols. How can a person sentenced to life imprisonment evade detection for over a decade while working in regulated industries? It highlights gaps in monitoring parolees and verifying backgrounds in the entertainment sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hemant Modi?
Hemant Nagindas Purushottamdas Modi is a convicted murderer who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008 for his role in a fatal clash in Ahmedabad. He escaped custody on parole in 2014 and hid for 12 years by working as an actor under the alias "Spandan Modi."
What crimes was he convicted of?
He was convicted of murder and rioting following a violent incident on June 15, 2005, in which Ajay Ramabhai Patel was killed and another man was injured during a dispute over illegal construction in Naroda, Ahmedabad.
How did he hide from the police for so long?
He changed his physical appearance, adopted multiple aliases (including Twinkle Dave and Spandan Modi), and integrated into the entertainment industry. He worked in theater, television, and films across Gujarat and Mumbai, creating a legitimate-looking career that masked his fugitive status.
When and where was he arrested?
He was arrested on May 20, 2022, at approximately 1:00 PM near a metro station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Crime Branch of Gujarat Police carried out the arrest after receiving a tip-off from someone who recognized him in a performance.
Did he work with famous actors?
Yes, reports indicate he played supporting roles in Bollywood films featuring stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, and Sara Ali Khan. He also worked in numerous Gujarati films and web series, including one with Imran Hashmi.
What happens to him now?
He has been returned to custody and transferred to Mehsana District Jail to serve the remainder of his life sentence. Police are also investigating his associates and network to determine if others aided his escape or concealment.