Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Jul 10: In a significant breakthrough, Bantwal town police on Thursday, July 10, arrested a man who had been absconding for over seven months after failing to appear in court in connection with a 2007 kidnapping and cheating case.

The accused was apprehended from Manjeshwar, Kerala, where he had been hiding since skipping court proceedings in December 2023.

The accused, identified as Hidayath alias Abdulla Embhatha, a resident of Manchi in Bantwal, is one of the prime accused in Crime No. 139/2007 registered at Bantwal Town police station. He faces serious charges under IPC Sections 366 (kidnapping), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 368 (wrongful confinement), and 149 (unlawful assembly).

Though released on bail, Hidayath failed to comply with the conditions of his release and went into hiding midway through the trial. Acting on reliable intelligence, a team from Bantwal town police tracked him down in Manjeshwar and took him into custody on Thursday. He was immediately produced before the honourable court, which ordered judicial remand.

Following his repeated non-appearance and violation of bail terms, police have also filed a fresh case – Crime No. 74/2025 under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – against the accused. Further legal proceedings are underway.