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Ten years after his appeal petition was dismissed, a convict in a murder case — who had been out on conditional bail — was arrested on Thursday (June 5, 2025) and lodged in prison.

Thangamani, 38, a resident of Chatiram Pudur in Perundurai and wife of Subramani, 48, was murdered on July 4, 2013, and nine sovereigns of gold jewellery was stolen from her. The Perundurai police registered a case and arrested Rajesh alias Kuttan, 35, of Moolakarai Elayampalayam in the same area. He was produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.

On February 3, 2015, the Mahila Court in Erode sentenced Rajesh to life imprisonment. However, the Madras High Court granted him conditional bail on July 22, 2015, directing him to sign at the Judicial Magistrate Court in Perundurai on the first working day of every month.

On June 28, 2016, the High Court dismissed his appeal and upheld the trial court’s sentence. Unaware of the dismissal, Rajesh continued reporting to the Perundurai court regularly, in accordance with his bail conditions.

On June 2, during an audit of criminal records, the Perundurai police discovered that Rajesh had not returned to prison despite the appeal being dismissed nearly a decade ago. He was summoned for an inquiry, during which the oversight came to light. Rajesh was then arrested, produced before the court, and lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison.

Police sources said an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the lapses that led to the delay in re-arresting the convict after his appeal was dismissed.