The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested two proclaimed offenders, Brijbhushan Prasad and Kartar Singh, in connection with a bank fraud case involving the alleged misappropriation of Rs 1.25 crore from the State Bank of India (SBI), Main Branch, Dhanbad.
Brijbhushan Prasad was arrested from Kopargaon in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, while Kartar Singh was apprehended from Raipur in Chhattisgarh during coordinated operations conducted by the agency.
According to the CBI, the case was registered on August 31, 2005, following allegations of fraudulent misappropriation of funds from the SBI branch between November 2002 and June 2005. The accused were allegedly involved in siphoning off bank funds through fraudulent means, causing substantial financial loss to the bank.
Escape to Nepal and Red Corner Notices: How Duo Evaded Arrest Since 2005
During the course of investigation, both accused reportedly fled to Nepal to evade arrest. As they remained untraceable for years, a court declared them proclaimed offenders, and Red Corner Notices were subsequently issued against them. The agency had also announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 each for information leading to their arrest.
The CBI said that sustained surveillance, technical intelligence and extensive follow-up efforts over the years eventually led investigators to their whereabouts. The two accused, who had been absconding for nearly 20 years, were living under assumed identities and frequently changing locations to avoid detection.
Assumed Identities Exposed: Simultaneous Inter-State CBI Raids Catch Fugitives
Acting on specific inputs, CBI teams conducted simultaneous operations at separate locations in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, successfully apprehending both accused. The agency said the arrests mark a significant breakthrough in a long-pending case and demonstrate its continued efforts to trace and bring absconding offenders to justice, regardless of the time elapsed. Both accused will be produced before the competent court for further legal proceedings, the CBI added.
