The Central Crime Branch has arrested two men who had been absconding for 19 years in connection with a ₹49 lakh telephone bill fraud.

The accused, Syed Ibrahim, 55, and Mohammed Taha Yaseen Hameem, 52, – both originally from Keelakarai in Ramanathapuram district – had been hiding in Chennai for several years. They were arrested near Valluvarkottam.

The police said that two private companies in Chennai obtained 34 telephone connections and defaulted on payments, causing a loss of ₹49 lakh to BSNL. Based on a complaint from BSNL, the police registered a case in 2003 and initially arrested the duo. But during trial, both the accused absconded