Michael Soosai, who was Asia’s most wanted fugitive before being accidentally arrested by the Tamil Nadu police, began a fast-unto-death demanding “justice” on Monday at Chengalpet special camp where he is lodged.
Coimbatore police arrested Soosai who is known as Karunaharaj to Tamil Nadu police, on August 22, 2010, in connection with a series of cases in which he had duped many people by promising them jobs abroad.
Malaysian police department, which confirmed his identity a year later, is in touch with Indian authorities in an effort to take him into custody and escort him to Malaysia where several cases are pending against him.
“When we arrested Karunaharaj, now aged 49, we were not even aware he was the most-wanted Asian criminal. Only later were we told by Interpol that he is Michael Soosai, who is wanted by Malaysian and Singapore police for various cheating cases,” said a senior police official.
He was known by various names. He was once Dr Soosai who issued fake MBA degrees in Malaysia. He was also known
Michael Rajah in Euro Credit Corporation, Penang, Malaysia. He was just Michael when he was arrested for 13 cases of cheque forgery. He jumped bail by faking his own death in September 2004 and reached India, said the police official.
“His changed his name to Dr Rajasingham who authored economic books and advised Nepal government on economic issues. He was called Dr Sivaraj, the deputy chairman of a few Singapore-based companies,” he said before adding, “He also donned the robe of Dr N. Mahadevan of Singapore, known to be a whistleblower in the Malaysian police department. He posed as Dr Karunaharaj of Goa and Bhopal.”
“How can we allow him to disappear when he is the most wanted Asian fraudster?” asked a senior police official.
Karunaharaj told Deccan Chronicle that he began his fast to seek justice. “One officer is targeting me and keeps on arresting me. He feels that I will expose him,” he said.