Kottayam, Kerala – In a major breakthrough, Manarcad Police on Thursday arrested Pastor Hariprasad T P (45) on charges of financial fraud involving Rs45 lakh and gold ornaments. The accused, a resident of Mulankuzha, Nattakom, had been evading arrest for nearly eight months.
Hariprasad, also known locally as Pastor Namboothiri, operated an organization called Pentecost Mission of India (PMI) since 2023. Under the guise of charity and religious outreach, PMI was allegedly used to swindle money and gold from multiple individuals across Kottayam and nearby regions.
Police stated that Hariprasad had been on the run, moving between rented accommodations in Tamil Nadu, Bengaluru, and various districts in Kerala, often accompanied by a woman from Kurumpanadom, making it difficult to track his whereabouts.
He was finally nabbed on Thursday morning from a flat in Kappalandi Mukku, Kollam. His arrest follows a complaint by a Manarcad resident who claimed to have been defrauded of Rs45 lakh and gold.
Authorities confirmed that more complaints have surfaced at Kumarakom, Chingavanam, and Gandhinagar police stations, all in Kottayam district, indicating a broader pattern of fraud. A case had already been registered at the Kumarakom Police Station, with similar reports pending further investigation.
According to police, Hariprasad’s modus operandi involved frequent relocations, avoiding detection by never staying long in one place. Now in custody, police will begin detailed interrogations and seek to recover assets and gather more evidence.
