Prime accused Sunil Kumar in Malayalam actress Bhavana’s kidnap case was arrested in Kochi on Thursday as he tried to sneak into a judge’s chamber to surrender. As per reports, there was a heavy police presence in the court premises but Sunil Kumar, who used to be the actress' former driver, along with other accused in the case Vijesh managed to reach the chamber of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) unnoticed. When they tried to get out, police nabbed them. Kumar had been in hiding since 19 February.

Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra told the media that Sunil and an accomplice had been taken into custody but refused to provide details. "I will not make any comment on that," said Behra, referring to reports that the accused were nabbed from a court. "I have said before also that investigation is not a magic wand. Sometimes it takes time to get the accused and we did our best and now we have them," he added. The surrender marks a big breakthrough in the case. 

Earlier, Kumar had reportedly called up his legal counsel on the night of the crime, met him the next day to file the vakalath and then driven to his home in Ambalapuzha, where the cops had almost caught him but he escaped. Kumar had filed an anticipatory bail plea before the Kerala High Court which was deferred to 3 March.