Daijiworld Media Network - Patna/Shillong

Patna/Shillong, Apr 28: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a long-absconding accused in connection with a Rs 60.86 lac bank fraud case linked to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), nearly 14 years after the FIR was registered.

The accused, Manoj Kumar Sinha, also known as Manoj Sinha, had been evading arrest since 2012 and had never cooperated with the investigation, officials said.

The case dates back to April 16, 2012, when the CBI registered an FIR based on a complaint by BSNL. It alleged that Rs 60.86 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from a BSNL account maintained at the State Bank of India (SBI) M.G. Road branch in Shillong. The complaint named unknown officials of SBI, BSNL staff, and other unidentified individuals.

Following the initial probe, the agency filed a chargesheet in December 2013 against one accused, Sanjeev Kumar Rai, before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Shillong. A supplementary chargesheet was later filed in July 2021, naming Manoj Kumar Sinha and others.

CBI officials said Sinha had consistently avoided investigation proceedings and was declared an absconder. A court had also issued a warrant for his arrest, but he remained untraceable for years.

After sustained efforts involving surveillance, call detail record analysis, and open-source intelligence, the agency tracked him down to Patna. He was arrested there on April 28 by a CBI team.

The accused will be produced before a local court in Patna to obtain transit remand and will subsequently be taken to Shillong, where he will be presented before the Special Judge for further legal proceedings.

Officials described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the long-pending case, reiterating the agency’s commitment to pursuing absconders and ensuring accountability in financial frauds involving public sector institutions.