Coimbatore Police Arrest Murder Accused Absconding on Bail for Seven Years

A 39-year-old murder accused, who had been absconding after securing bail in a 2017 murder-for-gain case, was arrested by the Coimbatore District Police after nearly seven years of evading trial by frequently changing his identity and whereabouts. Police said he had allegedly disguised himself as a religious mendicant to avoid detection


Coimbatore: The Coimbatore District Police have arrested a 39-year-old man who had been absconding for nearly seven years after obtaining bail in connection with a 2017 murder-for-gain case registered by the Perur Police.

The accused, Karthick (39) of Sundakkamuthur, was wanted in connection with the murder of 70-year-old Kamalam, a resident of Bank Street, Sundakkamuthur. Police said he had failed to appear before the court after being released on bail on May 1, 2019, following which a non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against him.

According to the police, Kamalam had been living alone after the death of her husband, while her son, who lived in Alandurai, used to visit and support her financially. On December 19, 2017, when her son returned home in the evening, he found the front door open and found his mother lying dead in the kitchen with severe head injuries.

Based on his complaint, the Perur Police registered a case and launched an investigation. During the probe, police allegedly found that Karthick, who lived near the victim's residence, had entered the house with the intention of committing theft. When the elderly woman raised an alarm, he allegedly attacked her with a grinding stone found inside the house, killing her before fleeing with her six-gram gold earrings and a keypad mobile phone.

The accused was arrested and remanded to judicial custody. However, after being granted bail in May 2019, he allegedly absconded and remained untraceable by frequently changing his residence and concealing his identity across different districts.

A special team was subsequently formed under the supervision of Perur Deputy Superintendent of Police Suresh to trace the accused. Police said the team maintained surveillance on his relatives and local contacts while gathering intelligence on his movements.

Acting on specific information, the special team traced Karthick near the Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital on July 18. Police said he had allegedly disguised himself as a religious mendicant to avoid detection. He was apprehended near a bus stop close to the hospital.

The accused was produced before the IV Additional District Court, Coimbatore, which remanded him to judicial custody until August 2. He has been lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison.

The Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore District, commended the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Perur Sub-Division, and the members of the special team for successfully tracing and arresting the absconding murder accused.

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