New Delhi/Patna: In a major breakthrough, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an accused who had been absconding for 14 years in connection with a ₹60.86 lakh bank fraud case.
The accused, identified as Manoj Kumar Sinha, had been evading arrest since 2012 after allegedly being involved in the fraudulent withdrawal of funds from a government account.
According to a CBI press release, the case was registered on April 16, 2012, following a complaint by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The complaint alleged that ₹60.86 lakh was illegally withdrawn from its account held at the State Bank of India (SBI) main branch in Shillong.
During the course of investigation, the CBI filed its first chargesheet on December 23, 2013. A supplementary chargesheet was later filed on July 22, 2021, naming Manoj Kumar Sinha among the accused. However, he failed to join the investigation and was subsequently declared an absconder. A court had also issued a non-bailable warrant against him.
Officials said the breakthrough came after sustained efforts involving technical surveillance, field verification, and call detail record (CDR) analysis. The accused was finally traced and arrested from his hideout in Patna on April 28, 2026.
The CBI confirmed that the accused will be produced before a court and taken to Shillong on a transit warrant for further legal proceedings in the case.
Authorities described the arrest as a significant step in ensuring accountability and bringing long-pending financial crime cases to justice.
