Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Karnataka Police Arrest Man After 11-Year Fake Death
Arun Kumar Reddy wanted people to think he had died.
Police found a burned body with his belongings near it in 2015.
His family believed the body was Arun and performed his last rites.
Later, investigators discovered that Arun was still alive.
DNA tests showed the burned body belonged to someone else.
Police said Arun created the scene to escape debts and possibly collect insurance money.
He was arrested but later disappeared after receiving bail.
Eleven years later, police found him living in Chennai.
They arrested him after tracking his identification and phone details.
Arun Kumar Reddy allegedly staged his death in Kolar in 2015 to escape debts and potentially claim insurance money.
Police found a charred body with Arun’s Aadhaar card, mobile phone, SIM card, sandals and motorcycle nearby.
DNA testing later showed the body belonged to someone else, and police said the deceased had died naturally.
Arun was arrested in 2015 but disappeared after receiving bail as the case proceeded toward trial.
Kolar police traced him through Aadhaar-linked SIM details in Chennai and arrested him after confirming his residence.
- Who
- Kolar police arrested Arun Kumar Reddy, a 36-year-old man from Kyasamballi.
- What
- He was arrested for allegedly staging his own death by burning an unidentified corpse and creating false evidence.
- When
- The fake death occurred on February 9, 2015, and Arun was arrested again on Monday after more than 11 years.
- Where
- The staged death occurred in Kolar district, Karnataka, and Arun was found living in Chennai.
- Why
- Police said he wanted to escape debts and planned to claim money from an insurance policy.
- Suspect
- Arun Kumar Reddy, 36
- Fake death date
- February 9, 2015
- Location of staged death
- A eucalyptus grove on the Tekal-Kyasamballi main road in Kolar district
- Evidence used
- An Aadhaar card, motorcycle, sandals, documents, mobile phone and SIM card
- Investigation finding
- DNA tests showed the burned body belonged to someone else
- Alleged motive
- Escaping loans and potentially claiming insurance proceeds
- Current status
- Arun was sent to judicial custody after his arrest in Chennai