The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested a 55-year-old man who had allegedly been absconding for nearly 17 years after failing to appear before a court in a land fraud case.

The accused, Shanmugasundaram, was wanted under a non-bailable warrant issued by the Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court for cases related to the CCB and Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department in Egmore.

The case arose from a complaint lodged in 2008 by Anand Jayaram Moorthy of Adyar, who alleged that Shanmugasundaram and his wife, Akhila, attempted to usurp his property by using forged documents, impersonating him, and forging his signature.

The CCB’s Land Fraud Investigation Wing registered a case and, after completing the investigation, filed a charge-sheet before the Egmore court.

Although both accused had obtained conditional anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court, Shanmugasundaram stopped appearing before the trial court in 2009 and remained “absconding” thereafter. The court subsequently issued a non-bailable warrant against him, the police said.

Published - July 18, 2026 12:30 am IST