Mangaluru: Mangaluru City Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested a 64-year-old man who had been evading court proceedings for nearly three years. Sam Peter, also known as Danny Tharakan and Anthony, was also charged with several criminal cases across different states, city police said.
Sam Peter, according to the information available, is originally from Koilad in Kerala and was residing in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, before his arrest.
Police describe him as a notorious criminal with a long criminal history. He is linked to about 17 cases registered across different states, said the police.
Accused Allegedly Posed as Investigation Officer
Sam Peter’s main contention against him is that he presented himself as being an official associated with a national criminal investigation organisation.
He purported to be an officer of the National Crime Investigation Bureau (NCIB) and used the identity to carry out fraudulent activities.
He formed his own group and worked with accomplices, police said, pretending to be officials. The alleged impersonation was said to be part of a larger scheme to deceive people, the report said.
The case has attracted attention because of the number of aliases that are said to have been associated with the accused and his alleged activities in various locations.
Earlier Arrest in Mangaluru
Sam Peter had previously been arrested by Mangaluru Kadar police in 2019.
On August 16, 2019, Kadar police conducted an operation at a lodge in Pumpwell, Mangaluru, where Sam Peter was staying along with eight associates.
Sam Peter and several of his alleged accomplices were arrested in the police operation.
The 2019 case had brought his activities under the scanner, particularly the impersonation of officials and the operation of a group involved in fraudulent activities.
Multiple Aliases
Sam Peter has been linked to at least 11 different names or aliases, investigators have found.
The multiple identities, it was said, made it difficult for authorities to track his movements and to establish his location over the years.
Police will now examine the various identities associated with him and probe if the different names were used in connection with cases in different states.
The fact that his links to as many as 17 criminal cases in different regions of the country have also increased the significance of the recent arrest, they said.
Interpol Red Corner Notice
Another interesting aspect of the case is the existence of an Interpol Red Corner Notice against Sam Peter dating back to 2001.
A Red Notice is used to seek the location and provisional arrest of a person wanted by a member country for prosecution or to serve a sentence. It is not an international arrest warrant alone.
According to the long-standing notice, this gives Sam Peter’s activities a new dimension.
Evading Court Proceedings for Three Years
The latest arrest was made after Sam Peter failed to appear before the court and remained absconding for about three years.
His absence had resulted in efforts to locate and apprehend him. The Mangaluru CCB team eventually traced and arrested him as part of its operation.
The arrest should help in the ongoing legal process.
Investigation Continues
The investigation following the arrest will be to look into Sam Peter, his associates, and identities he’s alleged to have used.
Authorities may also pursue his movements between states and his alleged connections with people involved in fraudulent activities.
The 2019 arrest in Mangaluru, the multiple aliases, a reported impersonation of investigation officials, and the long period when he allegedly avoided court proceedings have made the case important to law enforcement agencies.
Police will continue their investigation into the allegations, and further legal proceedings will determine the outcome of the cases against the accused.
The Mangaluru CCB’s latest operation shows how law enforcement agencies are looking for the accused persons who have not been available for court proceedings for many months.
