New Delhi, Jul 5: Aman Vyas, a 27-year-old man wanted by Interpol in connection with a serial rape case and murder of a teenager in the UK was arrested by the CBI late on Monday night from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
Vyas was headed for Bangkok when he was detained by Immigration officials at the IGIA.
A CBI team was rushed to the airport to verify the identity of the person and it was found that Vyas in order to avoid arrest was fleeing to Bangkok.
According to CBI, Vyas was wanted in connection with the rape of three foreigners and murdering a woman named Michelle Samaraweera in the UK.
“In 2009, he had gone to the UK on a student visa for three years but fled from there after he was found involved in rape of three girls. He is alleged to have committed these offences in 2009,” said a CBI official.
Son of a leading businessman from Meerut, Vyas was hiding in various cities after he came to India. The UK police had got a red notice issued through Interpol against him.
The CBI was asked to locate Vyas after which pressure was mounted by the agency in Meerut and other places.
“Due to mounting pressure, he decided to flee to another country. We have also seized his passport, cash and other documents,” added the official.
“ We have also informed the authorities at Interpol and a process to extradite him will soon begin,” the officer added.
Vyas was arrested in connection with the murder of 35-year-old woman Michelle Samaraweera who was raped and strangled in east London two years ago.
Michelle was found in a small park and play area in Queens Road, Walthamstow, on May 30, 2009.
The Metropolitan Police will now be seeking the man's extradition to the UK.
Samaraweera had been strangled and raped as she returned to her boyfriend's address after going to a local supermarket.
Police launched the investigation into Samaraweera's murder, close to the junction with Markhouse Road, and three other DNA-linked sexual assaults in the Walthamstow area, in 2009.
The first occurred March 24, 2009 as a 59-year-old woman was walking to her home near Queens Road.
She approached her front door and noticed the suspect standing nearby. She walked around him and as she entered her property he forced his way inside, raping her in her bedroom.
The second assault took place April 22, 2009 and involved a 46-year-old woman who had been walking along Lea Bridge Road with the suspect attempting to talk to her when she was forced into an alleyway near to St James Street rail station.
She was raped before the suspect fled, warning her not to leave the scene.
The third attack occurred on April 29, 2009 in the grounds of St Saviour's Church, Markhouse Road.
A 32-year-old woman had been walking towards the same Somerfield store as Samaraweera when she realised a man was following close by.
The victim has no further recollection of the attack but a member of the public heard noises and called police.
Officers arrived shortly after to find the victim semi-clothed and in a distressed state in the churchyard.
The information about the three sex attacks emerged after Samaraweera's murder.
