Yahya Khan (43), the accused who was declared an international criminal in the case of raping a mentally challenged girl in Kerala, was arrested in Sharjah. Valiyavilakam house Yahya Khan is a Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram native whose victim was from Kottayam. He was arrested in Sharjah with the help of Interpol.
The incident related to the case was in 2008. Khan used to go door-to-door selling kitchen utensils. He reached Pala in Kottayam for business. He became aware that the mentally challenged girl was alone in the house and allegedly brutally raped her.
Pala police registered a case and arrested Khan following an investigation. Later, he got out on bail and absconded.
A special investigation team was formed under the leadership of the Kottayam SP to arrest the accused. After hiding in the Kannur and Malappuram areas, the authorities discovered during the ensuing hunt that he had escaped abroad.
In January 2024, district police chief K Karthick filed a report to Interpol based on these findings, designating Khan as an international criminal. Khan had been on the run from authorities for 16 years.
Subsequently, Khan was arrested by the police from Sharjah with the help of Interpol. He was brought to Kochi at noon on Saturday. Pala Deputy Police Superintendent (DySP) Sadan K, Pala Station Station sub-inspector(SI) Binu VL, and SI Biju Kumar (Interpol Liaison Officer) were also part of the investigation team. Khan was produced in court and remanded.
Several accused have gone into hiding in the Gulf after committing crimes in Kerala. The police are often unable to catch such people. Many accused of misusing the diplomatic route in the Swapna Suresh gold smuggling case are now absconding abroad.
