Mangaluru: A man who had been absconding for nearly nine years after failing to appear before the court in a theft case has been arrested by the Dharmasthala Police. The accused, who was wanted in connection with a 2016 theft case, was traced and apprehended from Andhra Pradesh before being produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
Arrest made after prolonged search
The accused has been identified as Srinivasalu V., a resident of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh.
According to police, Srinivasalu was wanted in connection with Crime No. 169/2016 registered at the Dharmasthala Police Station under Sections 379 (theft) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Police said the accused had remained absconding for nearly nine years after failing to appear before the court during the proceedings in the case. Efforts to trace him continued over the years before investigators finally succeeded in locating him.
Accused traced in Andhra Pradesh
Acting on credible information, Dharmasthala police personnel Vrushabh and Charan Raj travelled to Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, where they arrested the accused on Tuesday, June 30.
Following his arrest, Srinivasalu was brought to Karnataka and produced before the jurisdictional court on July 1, 2026.
The court subsequently remanded him to judicial custody.
Investigation and legal proceedings
Police stated that the arrest marks a significant development in the long-pending theft case. With the accused now in custody, legal proceedings in the matter are expected to continue before the court.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to tracing and apprehending accused persons who evade court proceedings, regardless of the time elapsed since the registration of a case.
The successful arrest underscores continued coordination and follow-up by investigating officers in executing pending warrants and ensuring that accused persons are brought before the judicial system.