CBI Arrests Proclaimed Offender in 2005 Kerala Student Murder After 19 Years
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made a significant breakthrough in a long-pending case by arresting a proclaimed offender involved in the abduction and murder of a College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram student. The arrest comes after nearly two decades of the suspect being on the run, marking a crucial development in this high-profile investigation.
Details of the Arrest and Fugitive's Identity
On March 27, the CBI apprehended Durga Bahadur Bhat Chetri, also known as Deepak, from Nagpur. Chetri had been absconding since the initial stages of the investigation into the 2005 killing of Shyamal Mandal and was later officially declared a proclaimed offender. According to CBI officials, Chetri had been living under a false identity as Suraj B Bhatt in Nagpur, where he managed to settle down and even got married, effectively evading law enforcement for years.
Background of the 2005 Abduction and Murder Case
The case dates back to October 2005, when Shyamal Mandal, a student at the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram, was abducted. He was lured out of his hostel by individuals known to him. Shortly after the abduction, ransom calls were made to his father, initially demanding Rs 20 lakh. This amount was later negotiated down to Rs 10 lakh, which was deposited into a bank account as per the instructions given by the accused.
However, the investigation later uncovered that Mandal had been murdered soon after being abducted. His body was discovered on October 23, 2005, packed in a sack and hidden in bushes near Vellar in the Thiruvallam area of Thiruvananthapuram. This grim finding shifted the focus of the case from a kidnapping for ransom to a homicide.
Conspiracy and Co-Accused Involvement
The CBI revealed that Chetri conspired with co-accused Mohammed Ali, both natives of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to commit the crime primarily for financial gain. Mohammed Ali was arrested during the earlier stages of the investigation and was subsequently convicted in 2022, serving as a key piece in solving this complex case.
Investigation Timeline and Legal Proceedings
Initially, the local police handled the investigation into Mandal's abduction and murder. However, following a directive from the Kerala High Court, the case was transferred to the CBI in 2008, highlighting the seriousness and complexity of the matter. The CBI's persistent efforts over the years have now led to Chetri's arrest, bringing a sense of closure to the long-standing investigation.
Chetri is set to be produced before the jurisdictional court in Ernakulam, where he will face legal proceedings for his alleged involvement in this heinous crime. This arrest underscores the CBI's commitment to pursuing justice, even in cases that have remained unresolved for decades.
