LUCKNOW, April 6 -- 18 years after a highway bus robbery in Sitapur, the alleged mastermind, Jhabbu alias Jaljala, has been arrested from Patiala, Punjab, where he had been living under a new identity. Officials said he had been running a shuttering business and was living as Vijay Kumar with a family that was unaware of his criminal past.

The robbery took place on November 8, 2007, near Bharauna village under Sandana police station in Sitapur district. After the crime, Jhabbu vanished with the stolen valuables, leaving behind five accomplices who were later arrested and served jail terms. One of the other key accused, Raju, remains untraceable.

Sandana police station in-charge Chandra Bhan Yadav said a court-issued warrant prompted a f...