New Delhi, May 15 (KNC): Delhi Police has arrested a man from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district for allegedly cheating a Delhi-based trader of more than Rs 5 lakh on the pretext of supplying apple consignments, officials said on Friday.

The accused, identified as 38-year-old Istaq Ahmedar, had reportedly been evading arrest for nearly a decade by frequently changing his locations and mobile numbers.

According to police, the case was registered in 2016 at Mahendra Park Police Station under Sections 420 and 120B of the IPC related to cheating and criminal conspiracy. Ahmedar and his associate were accused of luring the complainant into a fake business deal involving Kashmiri apple consignments.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said the accused allegedly collected Rs 5,08,700 from the complainant on different occasions after assuring timely supply of apple consignments. However, neither the consignments were delivered nor the money was returned.

Following the registration of the case, Ahmedar went absconding, prompting police to announce a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his arrest. Due to the complexity of the case, the investigation was later transferred to the Crime Branch.

Police said a special team conducted extensive technical surveillance and field verification in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Anantnag, to trace the accused. Investigators reportedly contacted former associates, transporters and people linked to his fruit business network while analysing several mobile numbers suspected to be connected to him.

Ahmedar was finally arrested on May 13 from the Fruit and Vegetable Market in Anantnag following sustained surveillance and source-based inputs.

During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted that he came in contact with the complainant in 2011 through a common acquaintance and later entered into business dealings involving apple consignments from Kashmir.

Police said Ahmedar disclosed that after payment-related disputes emerged, he deliberately stopped communication with the complainant and severed all contact to avoid legal action.

Investigators further revealed that the accused shifted from his original residence and continued small-scale wholesale business activities from another area in Anantnag while remaining underground.

Police added that Ahmedar used sophisticated methods to evade arrest, including frequently changing SIM cards, avoiding prolonged use of a single mobile number and operating through secondary contacts.

Further investigation into the case is underway, officials said.(KNC)