Mangaluru: Police have arrested a man who had been absconding abroad in connection with a case registered at Kankanady Town Police Station in 2019. The accused, who had allegedly evaded arrest for several years by remaining outside the country and changing his address, was apprehended after a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.
The arrested accused has been identified as Ashok Narayan (63), a resident of Andheri West in Mumbai. He was taken into custody after arriving in India from abroad and was later produced before the court.
Accused remained absconding since 2019
A criminal case was registered against Ashok Narayan at Kankanady Town Police Station in 2019.
According to police, the accused had been absconding ever since the case was filed. He allegedly failed to appear before the court despite repeated opportunities and changed his residential address to avoid being traced by investigators.
As he remained unavailable for investigation and court proceedings, police filed a chargesheet against him for absconding.
Look Out Circular helped trace accused
During the investigation, police gathered information that the accused had travelled abroad.
After obtaining his passport details, the office of the Police Commissioner issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) to alert immigration authorities about his movements.
The LOC enabled officials to monitor the accused’s arrival in the country and facilitated his arrest upon his return.
Arrest made at Mumbai airport
On August 1, Ashok Narayan arrived in India from abroad and was intercepted by authorities at Mumbai Airport, where he was arrested.
The following day, personnel from Kankanady Town Police Station, including Assistant Sub-Inspector Jagadish and staff member Ravikumar, took custody of the accused and brought him to Mangaluru.
He was subsequently produced before the jurisdictional court for further legal proceedings.
Investigation to continue
Police said the arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the long-pending case, as the accused had managed to evade law enforcement for several years.
Officials added that legal proceedings will now continue in accordance with the law, while the investigation into the original case will move forward following his arrest.
The successful execution of the Look Out Circular also highlights the importance of coordination between police and immigration authorities in tracing and apprehending absconding accused persons who leave the country.