Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 8: A team led by the assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Mangaluru North Sub-Division, has arrested Velayudhan (54), who had been absconding since 2020 after being convicted in a fake passport case.

On June 22, 2010, Velayudhan, then aged 37, son of Ammanniyan and a resident of Bevinje House, Thekkil Peri Post, Bevinje village, Kasaragod district, Kerala, attempted to travel abroad through Bajpe airport using a fake passport. Immigration officers K M Chandrashekhar and others at Bajpe Airport took him into custody and handed him over to the Bajpe police station.

Based on the complaint lodged by the immigration officials, a case was registered at Bajpe Police Station under Crime No. 141/2010 under Sections 419, 420, 468 read with Section 34 of the IPC and Sections 12(1)(b), (d) and (e) of the Passport Act, 1967.

The then investigating officers conducted the investigation and submitted a charge sheet before the competent court. The Sessions Court, on December 1, 2020, sentenced Velayudhan to one year and six months' imprisonment.

Subsequently, Velayudhan filed a Criminal Revision Petition No. 104/2021 before the Karnataka High Court challenging the conviction. The high court dismissed his petition.

Following the dismissal of his petition by the high court, Velayudhan remained absconding and could not be arrested. On October 8, the team led by the ACP of Mangaluru North Sub-Division apprehended him and handed him over to Bajpe police station for further action.