CHENNAI: Luck ran out for an IIM Delhi graduate, who jumped bail in a sensational 2005 murder case and fled the country, when he was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Railway Police upon his landing at the Mumbai airport.
Muthaiah Puvibalan from Madurai, now 38, was arrested at the Mumbai airport when he returned from Saudi Arabia on Monday last, GRP Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar told Express here on Sunday.
According to the Railway Police, Muthaiah, along with two of his friends, were travelling to Madurai from Chennai on the Pandian Express in August 2005. The trio, who were travelling in the general compartment, were in an inebriated state when they picked up a quarrel with a woman senior citizen over sharing space. When the train was between Melmaruvathur and Acharapakkam stations in Kancheepuram district, they allegedly pushed her out of the running train, resulting in her death. A case of murder was registered against the trio, but Muthaiah was released on bail in 2006. “Muthaiah jumped bail and moved to Saudi Arabia on his passport. When we came to know about this from his acquaintances and relatives, we obtained a look-out notice against him,” a Government Railway Police (GRP) official said. Muthiah moved to Dubai and took an onward flight to Saudi Arabia, sources said.
Even as the GRP was tracking his movements abroad, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia tipped them off that Muthaiah had obtained a new passport. Immediately, all air and seaports were alerted with the new passport number, while the GRP was patiently waiting for his arrival in India.
“The accused was employed as a chemist in a private company abroad. We knew that he will land in India sooner or later,” the official added.
On November 16, when he flew down to the Mumbai airport, Muthaiah was detained by the Immigration officials there.
When the information reached Tamil Nadu, GRP officials rushed there and apprehended him. He was then remanded in judicial custody.
Interestingly, the other two accused in the case were acquitted after trial. Muthaiah Puvibalan will now face trial in a court at Chengalpattu.