Delhi Police Capture Fugitive After 12 Years in Forgery Case
Significant Arrest by Delhi Police
Photo: IANS
New Delhi, Aug 10: In a major development, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police apprehended a fugitive on Monday who had been evading capture for over 12 years. The individual, identified as Manoharan Kandhasamy, was wanted in a serious forgery case involving counterfeit letterheads from notable political offices and government entities, with a reward of Rs 50,000 placed on his head.
Kandhasamy was linked to FIR No. 33/2008, which was filed under Sections 465 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code at the Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi.
The police stated that this arrest marks the end of a prolonged and difficult search for the accused, who had allegedly exploited the judicial system by skipping bail and remaining elusive for years.
The case traces back to FIR No. 384/2007, filed under Section 380 IPC at the Mandir Marg Police Station following a complaint from Vijay Kumar, a Hyderabad resident. Kumar reported that while he was staying at a Dharamshala in Delhi, he had stored gold jewelry and other valuables in an almirah, which he found broken and emptied upon his return.
During the investigation, authorities arrested Kandhasamy, who is originally from Karnataka. Although the stolen items were not recovered, a search yielded numerous printed and blank letterheads allegedly issued by significant political offices and government authorities.
Due to the gravity of the situation and its broader implications, both cases were subsequently handed over to the Crime Branch for deeper investigation.
While probing the forgery case, Kandhasamy was taken into custody and placed in judicial remand. However, after about a month, he was granted bail by the court. Following his release, he failed to appear in court and went into hiding, obstructing the judicial process.
In 2014, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Patiala House Courts in New Delhi declared him a Proclaimed Offender. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement, he remained untraceable for years, prompting authorities to offer a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his capture.
After more than a month of diligent technical surveillance and verification, investigators identified a mobile number believed to be used by Kandhasamy in Tamil Nadu. Acting on this information, police conducted ongoing surveillance and field inquiries in the region.
This operation led the team to Tiruchengode in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. On August 4, they located Kandhasamy at a godown on the town's outskirts, where he was reportedly involved in the poultry business. He was subsequently arrested by the Crime Branch.
During questioning, Kandhasamy confessed that after being released on bail, he deliberately went into hiding due to fears of being imprisoned again and facing conviction. He revealed that he cut ties with former associates, changed his residence, and moved to Tamil Nadu to evade arrest.
Authorities noted that he had settled in Tamil Nadu with his family, built a new life, and consistently concealed his identity and location from law enforcement.
Manoharan Kandhasamy, around 62 years old, hails from Mangaluru in Karnataka. He has been living with his family in Tiruchengode, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, for several years. A married man and father of two, he runs a poultry farm that serves as the main source of income for his family.