Mangaluru: In a concerted drive to trace long-absconding accused involved in serious criminal cases, the Mangaluru City Police have attached properties of sureties in 17 cases and recovered surety amounts in 11 cases, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said on Saturday.
Addressing reporters, the Police Commissioner said that six months ago, clear instructions were issued to all police stations in the city to intensify efforts to secure absconding accused involved in grave offences. These include murder, dacoity, rape, attempt to murder, communal killings and stone-pelting incidents, many of which had remained unresolved for years due to the accused evading arrest.
Focus on long-pending warrants
As part of the special drive, the city police identified 38 notorious accused against whom courts had issued non-bailable warrants in cases registered between 1998 and 2023. Mr. Reddy said sustained tracking, intelligence gathering and follow-up with sureties were initiated to bring these accused to justice.
“So far, 13 absconding accused have been traced, arrested and produced before the respective courts,” he said, adding that efforts are continuing to secure the remaining accused.
Recovery of surety amounts and property attachment
The Police Commissioner said the police moved the courts to recover surety amounts ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh in 11 cases where sureties failed to produce the accused as required. In addition, courts were approached for attachment of properties belonging to sureties in 17 cases, sending a strong message about accountability in the bail process.
Separate proceedings have also been initiated in two cases where sureties were found to have submitted fake property documents at the time of furnishing bail for the absconding accused. “Such acts will not be tolerated, and strict legal action will be taken against those who misuse the system,” Mr. Reddy said.
Arrest of Dandupalya gang accused after decades
The Police Commissioner lauded the Urwa police team, led by Inspector Shyam Sundar, for arresting 55-year-old Chikka Hanuma, an alleged member of the notorious Dandupalya gang. The accused had been absconding for nearly 27 years in connection with a double murder case registered at the Urwa police station in October 1997.
Mr. Reddy made special mention of police constable Lalita Lakshmi for her role in tracing the accused, who had been living in Andhra Pradesh under a changed identity as Krishnappa alias Krishna. Detailed verification and sustained surveillance ultimately led to his arrest.
Multiple murder cases across Karnataka
According to the police, Chikka Hanuma is an accused in 13 criminal cases, most of them involving murder. He faces four murder cases in Bengaluru, three in Mysuru, two in Hubballi, and one each in Mandya, Shivamogga and Tumakuru.
In seven of these murder cases, the remaining accused have already been sentenced to life imprisonment. In the Urwa double murder case, however, the other accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Further legal proceedings ahead
Mr. Reddy said that apart from the Urwa case, Chikka Hanuma will be produced before courts in the remaining 12 murder cases. Trials will be conducted after the filing of charge sheets wherever required, he added.
He said the special drive against absconding accused would continue and warned that both accused persons and their sureties would be held accountable under the law. “No matter how old the case is, efforts will be made to ensure that offenders are brought before the courts,” the Police Commissioner said.
Conclusion
The intensified action by the city police has highlighted a renewed focus on clearing long-pending warrants and strengthening the criminal justice process. By targeting absconding accused as well as defaulting sureties, the police aim to deter misuse of bail provisions and reinforce public confidence in law enforcement.