A 64-year-old alleged serial fraudster, who was wanted in around 17 cases of cheating, impersonation and extortion across several States, has been arrested after remaining on the run for nearly three years.
The accused, identified as Sam Peter alias Danny Tharakkan alias Anthony, was arrested in Kannur, Kerala, by the Mangaluru City Crime Branch (CCB).
According to police, Peter allegedly operated by impersonating officials of central investigative agencies and using the threat of criminal proceedings to extort money from victims.
He is accused of approaching people involved in financial disputes, bank fraud and tax-related matters and claiming that he could help settle their cases in exchange for money.
The accused was arrested on Monday night and was subsequently handed over to the Mangaluru East police for further legal proceedings. Investigators said he had been evading the judicial process after obtaining bail in an earlier case and failing to appear before the court after September 2023.
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Peter was first arrested by Mangaluru East police in 2019. At the time, he was allegedly posing as a senior officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Police accused him of using the false identity to contact people facing financial or legal problems and demanding money by claiming that he could influence or settle the cases.
After securing bail, he continued to face legal proceedings in several cases. However, according to investigators, he stopped appearing before the court in September 2023 and went into hiding. His movements across different States and the use of multiple identities reportedly made it difficult for investigators to trace him.
Multiple identities helped him evade police
Investigators said Peter frequently changed his identity and allegedly adopted different names while operating in different locations. Apart from Sam Peter and Danny Tharakkan, police records reportedly list aliases including Rahul Peter, Rajesh Robinson, Roy Jacob, Robin Richardson, Anthony Francis and Sharon Francis.
Police believe the accused adopted new identities after allegedly committing offences in different locations. Investigators are now examining whether the same pattern was followed in cases registered outside Karnataka and whether the aliases were linked to separate fraudulent activities.
The cases registered against him include allegations of cheating, impersonation and extortion. Police records reportedly show cases in Mangaluru, Ullal, Konaje, Udupi, Chikkaballapur, Kushalnagar and Bengaluru.
Cases spread across eight States
The investigation has also revealed that the accused was allegedly wanted in cases outside Karnataka. Police records reportedly link him to cases in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of States involved to eight when Karnataka is included.
The wide geographical spread of the cases has raised questions about the scale of his alleged operations. Investigators are expected to examine whether there were common victims, financial links or associates connecting cases registered in different States.
Interpol notice issued in 2001
The police investigation has also brought an earlier international alert against Peter to light. Officials said an Interpol Red Corner Notice had been issued against him in 2001 under one of his aliases. The notice was subsequently closed following his earlier arrest.
Despite the earlier international alert and multiple criminal cases, police allege that Peter continued to engage in fraudulent activities over the years. Investigators are now expected to examine his previous criminal history and establish whether cases registered under different aliases can be connected to the same individual.
The latest arrest came after the CCB traced his movements to Kannur. Police described him as a habitual offender who allegedly changed identities and locations to avoid detection.
With the accused now in custody, investigators are expected to question him about the cases registered across Karnataka and other States, his alleged use of multiple identities, the victims targeted and the money collected through the suspected fraud and extortion network. Further legal action will depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation and proceedings before the court.
