Mangaluru: Police from the Kankanady City police station on Tuesday apprehended a 66-year-old man who had been absconding for nearly seven years in connection with a cheating case and had failed to appear before the court despite a pending warrant.

The accused has been identified as Jayachandra (66), a resident of Kollam in Kerala. According to police sources, a cheating case had been registered against him in 2019 following a complaint alleging financial cheating. After the case was filed, he allegedly stopped responding to police notices and did not cooperate with the investigation.

Officials said summons were issued to secure his presence before the jurisdictional court during the course of proceedings. However, he repeatedly failed to appear. As a result, the court escalated the matter and issued a warrant against him. Continued non-compliance led investigators to classify him as absconding in the charge sheet submitted before the court.

Case registered in 2019

Police officials stated that the complaint in the cheating case involved alleged financial misrepresentation and wrongful gain. After registering the case, investigators began routine procedures including recording statements and issuing notices to the accused.

Despite multiple attempts to contact and secure his presence, the accused could not be located at his known addresses at the time. When an accused avoids court appearances after due notice, legal provisions allow the court to issue a warrant and permit police to intensify search efforts.

After prolonged absence, investigators proceeded with filing a charge sheet listing him as an absconding accused. This ensured that the case remained legally active and enforceable, even though the accused had not yet been arrested.

Tip-off helps police track suspect

A recent specific intelligence input gave police fresh direction in the long-pending case. Acting on the information, a small team was formed to verify the lead and trace the suspect’s current location.

Police personnel Balaraj and Ravi Kumar conducted ground verification and surveillance based on the tip-off. Their enquiries led them to a residential property identified as Vattakuttu Lalitha Mandiram in Kollam city, where the accused was believed to be staying.

After confirming his identity, the team apprehended him on February 3. The arrest was carried out as per legal procedure. Police said the operation was completed without any resistance or untoward incident.

Court proceedings to resume

Following the arrest, officials said the accused would be produced before the appropriate court in connection with the pending cheating case. Since a warrant had already been issued earlier, the court will now decide on further custody and trial proceedings.

Legal observers point out that once an accused is declared absconding and a charge sheet is filed, the case does not lapse due to delay alone. On arrest, the judicial process resumes from the appropriate stage, ensuring that the complaint is adjudicated on merit.

Absconding status can also affect bail considerations and court directions, depending on the circumstances and duration of evasion.

Focus on long-pending accused

Police authorities said they have been reviewing old pending cases involving absconding accused and unexecuted warrants. Dedicated teams are increasingly using intelligence inputs and interstate coordination to trace such individuals.

Officials added that long gaps do not prevent enforcement action and that accused persons remain liable to be arrested whenever traced. The latest arrest highlights continued follow-up in pending cheating and financial fraud cases.

Further investigation and trial proceedings will continue as per court directions, bringing the long-pending matter back into the judicial process.