CBI arrests Proclaimed Offender Roop Singh after 23 years on the run
Synopsis
A man who spent 23 years evading the law has finally been caught. The CBI's arrest of Roop Singh — a Proclaimed Offender since 2010 in a 1998 Maharashtra goods theft case — closes one chapter of a saga that began with two trucks, ₹9 lakh worth of stolen ghee and mung, and a conspiracy that has kept investigators busy across three decades.
Key Takeaways
The CBI arrested Roop Singh , a Proclaimed Offender, on 21 August after he absconded for nearly 23 years .
The case stems from the 1998 theft and misappropriation of goods worth ₹9 lakh from two trucks in Amalner, Maharashtra .
Co-accused Arjun Singh was arrested on 7 November 2025 after nearly 22 years as a fugitive.
Both accused were declared Proclaimed Offenders by a competent court on 11 November 2010 .
Accused Babu Khan and Aslam Khan remain absconding since the case began in 1998 .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday, 21 August arrested Roop Singh, a Proclaimed Offender (PO) who had been absconding for nearly 23 years, in connection with a 1998 criminal misappropriation case involving goods worth ₹9 lakh stolen from two trucks in Maharashtra. The arrest follows sustained efforts by the agency to trace fugitives linked to a decades-old conspiracy.
Background of the Case
The case originated from Case No. 178/1998, registered on 4 October 1998 at Amalner Police Station, Maharashtra, concerning the alleged theft and misappropriation of goods — including ghee and mung — loaded in two trucks. According to the CBI, on 27 September 1998, truck drivers Babu Khan and Aslam Khan allegedly stole and misappropriated the consignment meant for delivery to customers.
The High Court of Judicature of Bombay at Aurangabad, through its order dated 25 February 2002 in Criminal Writ Petition No. 547/2000, directed the transfer of the investigation to the CBI. The agency re-registered the case on 5 April 2002 as RC-4(S)/2002-CBI, SCB, Mumbai.
Chargesheet and Abscondence
After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on 19 December 2003 before the Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Amalner, against Roop Singh, Arjun Singh, Babu Khan, and Aslam Khan. The charges included criminal misappropriation, conspiracy, and abetment.
The investigation revealed that Roop Singh and Arjun Singh had, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with the two truck drivers, misappropriated goods intended for a third party. During the trial, both were released on bail — and subsequently absconded. A competent court declared them Proclaimed Offenders on 11 November 2010. Accused Babu Khan and Aslam Khan have reportedly been absconding since the case's inception.
Earlier Arrest and Current Developments
This is not the first breakthrough in the long-pending case. Co-accused Arjun Singh was arrested on 7 November 2025 after remaining a fugitive for nearly 22 years, underscoring the CBI's ongoing push to close out legacy abscondence cases. The arrest of Roop Singh now brings another key accused into custody after more than two decades.
Notably, this case reflects a broader pattern of the CBI pursuing Proclaimed Offenders in decades-old cases — a reminder that court-declared fugitive status does not guarantee permanent escape from the law. With Roop Singh now in custody, attention turns to the remaining accused, Babu Khan and Aslam Khan, who have evaded arrest since 1998.
What Happens Next
Roop Singh is expected to be produced before the competent court in connection with the long-pending trial. The CBI has not yet issued details on remand or further proceedings. The fate of the two truck drivers — still absconding after more than 26 years — remains a critical open thread in the case.
Point of View
In 2025, is he in custody. Two of the four accused remain untraceable after more than 26 years. The CBI deserves credit for persistence, but the case also exposes a systemic gap: bail conditions in trial courts are routinely violated with near-impunity, and the machinery to track Proclaimed Offenders activates far too slowly to deter flight.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Roop Singh and why was he arrested by the CBI?
Roop Singh is an accused in a 1998 Maharashtra goods misappropriation case involving ₹9 lakh worth of stolen goods from two trucks. He was arrested by the CBI on 21 August after absconding for nearly 23 years following his bail during trial.
What is the 1998 Amalner misappropriation case?
The case, registered as Case No. 178/1998 at Amalner Police Station, Maharashtra, involves the alleged theft of goods including ghee and mung from two trucks on 27 September 1998. The Bombay High Court at Aurangabad transferred the investigation to the CBI in 2002.
When were the accused declared Proclaimed Offenders?
Roop Singh and Arjun Singh were declared Proclaimed Offenders by a competent court on 11 November 2010, after they absconded while on bail during the trial.
Has any other accused in this case been arrested?
Yes. Co-accused Arjun Singh was arrested on 7 November 2025 after remaining a fugitive for nearly 22 years. Truck drivers Babu Khan and Aslam Khan have been absconding since the case began in 1998.
What charges were filed against the accused?
The CBI filed a chargesheet on 19 December 2003 before the JMFC, Amalner, charging Roop Singh, Arjun Singh, Babu Khan, and Aslam Khan with criminal misappropriation, criminal conspiracy, and abetment.
