Nearly 20 years after allegedly fleeing to avoid arrest, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has captured two proclaimed offenders linked to a significant bank fraud case involving over Rs 1.25 crore from the State Bank of India’s main branch in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The accused, Brijbhushan Prasad and Kartar Singh, were apprehended in a coordinated operation across Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh on June 21, marking progress in a long-pending investigation. The case, initiated on August 31, 2005, pertained to the fraudulent misappropriation of funds from SBI’s Dhanbad branch between November 2002 and June 2005.
According to the CBI, the accused individuals embezzled money from the bank and absconded during the investigation. Both men had reportedly fled to Nepal once the probe commenced and had been on the run for many years. After being declared Proclaimed Offenders by a court and facing Red Corner Notices, the CBI offered a reward of Rs 25,000 each for information leading to their arrest. The breakthrough came after persistent surveillance, technical intelligence gathering, and extensive follow-up by CBI teams.
The arrested individuals, Brijbhushan Prasad and Kartar Singh, were found living under false identities for almost two decades to evade detection. In a simultaneous operation on June 21, Prasad was arrested in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, while Singh was apprehended in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. A senior official highlighted that the operation underscores the CBI’s dedication to pursuing economic offenders, regardless of the time elapsed since the crime. Both accused are being presented before the competent court for further legal action.
These arrests mark the latest developments in the CBI’s ongoing investigations into financial fraud and corruption cases in Jharkhand. The agency has been actively probing various high-profile cases in the state, including alleged irregularities in public sector institutions, fraudulent withdrawals of government funds, and bank-related scams involving forged documents and financial misappropriation.
