The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Monday arrested former Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) Deputy Commissioner Talo Potom in connection with the sensational twin suicide case that has sparked outrage over alleged sexual exploitation, coercion, and corruption.

Potom, currently serving as Special Secretary (PWD) with the Delhi government, surrendered at Nirjuli police station around 7:30 am before being formally arrested, Papum Pare Superintendent of Police Neelam Nega confirmed. He had been untraceable since Thursday, prompting the police to issue a look-out notice.

Potom faces charges under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including abetment of suicide and criminal misconduct.

The case stems from the death of Gomchu Yekar, a young Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) employee, who was found dead at his rented apartment in Lekhi village near Nirjuli on October 23. A handwritten note recovered from the spot allegedly implicated Potom and Rural Works Department (RWD) Executive Engineer Likwang Lowang, who also died by suicide the same day at his Longding residence.

Initially registered as an unnatural death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the case took a dramatic turn when Yekar’s family produced multiple suicide notes containing grave allegations. The notes, police said, described prolonged sexual abuse, harassment, and coercion at the hands of the senior officials.In one note, Yekar claimed he had been infected with HIV, accused one of the officials of blackmail and abandonment, and mentioned an unfulfilled promise of ₹1 crore in financial assistance. He wrote that if he died, it would be because of Potom, appealing for “justice after death.”

Yekar’s family has filed a formal complaint seeking strong legal action under the BNS, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017. They also requested that the suicide notes be treated as dying declarations and be subjected to forensic and handwriting analysis.