Chennai: A 39-year-old history-sheeter, absconding since 2007 after being released on bail in a murder case, was arrested after 19 years with the help of AI-based facial age progression technology, police said.In 2007, Sheik Abdullah, of Kaladipet, Thiruvottiyur, was among five people arrested in connection with the murder of Pandiyamani in Thiruvottiyur. He was remanded in judicial custody. After being released on bail, Abdullah absconded and absented himself from trial, prompting the IV additional sessions court in Ponneri to issue a non-bailable warrant against him in 2010. A special team from the Serious Crime Squad (north) was later formed to trace long-pending warrant accused.Police initially searched for Abdullah using his Aadhaar, driving licence and PAN card details and examined records linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Investigators had a photograph of him taken during his arrest in 2007. Using AI-based facial age progression software, they generated images showing how he could look nearly two decades later. The images were used to scour social media platforms, leading police to a Facebook profile suspected to belong to Abdullah.After verifying the profile and tracing his movements, police found him in Choolaimedu. They said Abdullah had changed homes frequently after jumping bail, worked at a private company and married a woman. He was eventually traced to Thirumullaivoyal before being arrested on Friday. He was handed over to Thiruvottiyur police and produced before a court, which remanded him in judicial custody.
