Absconding accused held after 23 years by Udupi police

Udupi: In a major breakthrough, the Malpe police have arrested an absconding accused who had been evading court proceedings for over two decades. The accused, identified as M Babu (52), a resident of Shivanagar in Bengaluru, was wanted in connection with a case pending before the court of the Senior Civil Judge and Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Udupi.

According to police, the case involves charges under Sections 143, 147, 148, 323, and 326 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code. The accused had been charge-sheeted as an absconder and had failed to appear before the court for the past 23 years.

Months-long effort leads to arrest

The arrest was the result of sustained efforts by a dedicated police team over the past five months. Acting under the guidance of senior officers in the Udupi sub-division, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Circle Inspector of Malpe, a special team was formed to trace the absconding individual.

The operation was led by Malpe Police Sub-Inspector (Law & Order) Anil Kumar D, who coordinated the search and intelligence gathering process.

Tracked down in Bengaluru

Acting on credible inputs, head constables Suresh Kumar and Vishwanath H successfully located the accused in Ramamurthy Nagar, Bengaluru. The police team travelled to the city on April 12 and conducted surveillance before apprehending him on April 14.

Officials stated that the arrest was carried out without incident, marking the end of a prolonged effort to bring the accused to justice.

Produced before court, remanded

Following his arrest, M Babu was brought to Udupi and produced before the CJM court on April 15, 2026. The court has remanded him to judicial custody until April 28.

Police officials noted that the arrest demonstrates their commitment to pursuing long-pending cases and ensuring that absconding accused are brought before the law, regardless of the time elapsed.

Conclusion

The successful arrest of an accused after 23 years highlights the persistence of law enforcement agencies in tracking down offenders and upholding the judicial process. The case serves as a reminder that evading the law may delay justice, but does not prevent it.