Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 13: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested a fugitive accused in a 2014 abduction case, tracking him down in Surat after years on the run.

The accused, Bhola Singh—also known by aliases Gautam Kumar and Amit Sharma—was apprehended from his hideout where he had been living under a false identity. The case, involving the abduction of two residents from Kolkata, was handed over to the CBI by a High Court.

Officials said Singh had been absconding since 2015 and is wanted in at least 11 cases registered by the Bihar Police, including charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, murder, and possession of illegal arms and explosives.

He was located in Surat using forged documents and arrested during a coordinated operation. Following his arrest, Singh was produced before a local court to secure transit remand to Kolkata, where he will be presented before a court for custodial interrogation.

In a separate development, the CBI has also filed a chargesheet in a major cyber fraud case involving the alleged cheating of a Delhi-based senior citizen of nearly Rs 23 crore.

The case, transferred to the CBI on the directions of the Supreme Court of India, revolves around a “digital arrest” scam—a tactic where victims are intimidated using fake legal threats and impersonation of law enforcement officials through video calls.

The accused, identified as Sagnik Roy from Siliguri, has been arrested and is currently in judicial custody. The chargesheet also names a firm, Securing World Social and Economic Development Council, which was allegedly used to channel the defrauded funds.

Investigators revealed that bank accounts linked to the accused and the organisation were used to receive money transferred by the victim, who was coerced into believing they were under legal scrutiny.

The agency said the case highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud networks and the increasing use of psychological tactics to exploit victims.