How did K’taka’s Nasreen Taj evade justice for seven years?

Bengaluru, July 21 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully located and apprehended a proclaimed offender, Nasreen Taj, in connection with a significant bank fraud case, thanks to the relentless and detailed efforts of the investigating team.

The CBI announced on Monday that cutting-edge technology played a crucial role in identifying and tracking the fugitive who had been on the run for almost seven years.

Nasreen Taj had evaded court proceedings and failed to respond to various summons and warrants, remaining elusive since 2019. Numerous Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) were issued against her starting April 30, 2019.

On November 27, 2021, the Special Court in Bengaluru ordered the issuance of a 'Proclamation and Attachment of property warrant' against her.

Despite extensive efforts by the authorities over the years, Nasreen Taj remained hidden. While other co-defendants faced trial and were either convicted or acquitted, her case continued to linger, as stated by the CBI.

In an effort to evade capture, Nasreen Taj deliberately cut off communication with her family and social circles, frequently changed her residence, and adopted a new identity. She misled local residents and her employer about her true identity, which further complicated attempts to locate her.

The CBI utilized advanced technological resources and identity-tracking databases to thoroughly examine the digital trails left by the fugitive, ultimately revealing her current identity and location.

Complemented by thorough field investigations, the CBI team managed to find Nasreen Taj in Bengaluru, where she was living under the alias of Salma.

Following her identification, Nasreen Taj was arrested on July 19, 2025, and presented before the appropriate court in Bengaluru, which subsequently remanded her to judicial custody for continued trial proceedings. The accused is now facing trial after nearly seven years of being on the run, according to the CBI.

This bank fraud case was initiated by the CBI on April 15, 2009, against several individuals, including the then Branch Manager of Syndicate Bank, Mandya Branch, Asadullah Khan, and eight others for criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and the use of forged documents to deceive the Syndicate Bank.

In this scheme, the accused conspired to defraud the Syndicate Bank of Rs 12.63 crores. Nasreen Taj had no independent income but, in collusion with her husband, Asadullah Khan, and others, fraudulently obtained a Temporary Overdraft (TOD) facility of up to Rs 1.20 crore, along with farm loans totaling Rs 55 lakhs from Syndicate Bank.

The funds from these farm loans were wrongfully diverted by her to repay the TOD, instead of being used for agricultural purposes as required by the loan terms.

After completing the investigation, the CBI submitted the charge sheet on October 12, 2010, naming Nasreen Taj as a co-conspirator in the fraud against Syndicate Bank.

This case exemplifies how the integration of technology-driven intelligence with the dedicated efforts of law enforcement can significantly enhance the capability to trace and apprehend long-absconding offenders, the CBI concluded.