The Kerala Police will approach a court in Tamil Nadu seeking the custody of history-sheeter M Balamurugan (39), who had earlier escaped while being transported to Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur, officials said on Monday.

Police said that Balamurugan, a native of Kalyanipuram in Tenkasi district, was arrested on Sunday by the Q Branch police near Tiruchirappalli. He was intercepted while travelling on a motorcycle along with a friend, following sustained surveillance based on intelligence inputs.

Officials said Balamurugan is accused in around 87 criminal cases, spanning Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including serious offences such as murder, theft, and attempt to murder. He has been on the radar of multiple police units due to his long criminal history and repeated attempts to evade law enforcement. 

The accused had earlier been lodged in a Kerala prison and was being transported to Viyyur Central Jail when he allegedly escaped custody, triggering a high-level alert and an extensive manhunt across districts. Since then, he had remained on the run, frequently changing locations to avoid arrest, police said.

Following his arrest in Tamil Nadu, Kerala Police have initiated legal procedures to secure his custody for further interrogation and to proceed with pending cases registered in the state. “We will move the appropriate court in Tamil Nadu seeking his custody so that he can be brought back to Kerala for investigation,” a senior police official said.

Police officials added that further questioning is expected to reveal details about his movements after the escape, possible assistance networks, and his involvement in other unsolved crimes.

Balamurugan is currently in Tamil Nadu police custody, and security has been tightened in view of his past record of escape and violent behaviour.