Overview
- Muthukumar, who had been living in Chennai under the name Sam and working as a pastor, was arrested on Wednesday and brought to Thiruvananthapuram.
- He was first arrested in 2001 over the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old student, then jumped bail and remained on the run for more than two decades.
- Investigators say he avoided traceable footprints by shunning mobile phones and bank accounts, moving frequently, and using public phone booths.
- The probe intensified in the past year, with police monitoring about 150 phone numbers and 30 bank accounts linked to relatives and associates.
- A key lead came when an IMEI-tracked handset was found in use by his wife in Chennai, after which officers intercepted him as he attempted to flee and took him into custody.