CBI arrests BSNL-SBI fraud accused after 14-year manhunt in ₹60.86 lakh case
Synopsis
Nearly 14 years after a ₹60.86 lakh fraud was reported at BSNL's SBI account in Shillong, the CBI has finally nabbed the last absconding accused from Patna — tracked down using CDR analysis and OSINT. The arrest underscores how modern surveillance tools are closing cold cases that once seemed permanently stalled.
Key Takeaways
CBI arrested Manoj Kumar Sinha from Patna, Bihar on 28 April 2025 in a ₹60.86 lakh BSNL-SBI bank fraud case.
The FIR was originally registered on 16 April 2012 — nearly 14 years before the arrest.
A supplementary chargesheet naming Sinha was filed on 22 July 2021 ; he had evaded arrest since 2012.
The accused was traced using CDR analysis , OSINT , and physical surveillance.
Sinha will be produced before a Patna court for transit remand before being taken to Shillong for further proceedings.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an absconding accused in a ₹60.86 lakh bank fraud case involving Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the State Bank of India (SBI), nearly 14 years after the FIR was first registered. The accused, Manoj Kumar Sinha alias Manoj Sinha, was apprehended from Patna, Bihar, on 28 April 2025, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Background of the Fraud Case
The case was originally registered on 16 April 2012, following a complaint by BSNL against unknown officials of SBI's M.G. Road Main Branch in Shillong, BSNL officials in Shillong, and other unidentified persons. It was alleged that ₹60.86 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from a BSNL account maintained at that branch. A chargesheet was filed on 23 December 2013 against one accused, Sanjeev Kumar Rai, before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Shillong. A supplementary chargesheet naming Manoj Kumar Sinha and others followed on 22 July 2021 after further investigation.
How the CBI Traced the Absconder
Sinha had consistently avoided joining the investigation since the FIR's registration in 2012 and was subsequently declared an absconder. A court-issued arrest warrant remained unexecuted for years as Sinha remained untraceable. According to the CBI, the breakthrough came through a combination of field verification, technical and physical surveillance, call detail record (CDR) analysis, and open-source intelligence (OSINT). These sustained efforts eventually traced Sinha to a new location in Patna, where a CBI team moved in and made the arrest on 28 April.
What Happens Next
The CBI said Sinha will first be produced before a local court in Patna to obtain a transit remand. He will then be transferred to Shillong and produced before the Court of the Special Judge, where further legal proceedings in the case will take place. This marks the latest step in what has been a protracted judicial process spanning over a decade.
Significance of the Arrest
The arrest is notable not just for the length of the chase — nearly 14 years — but also for what it signals about the CBI's use of modern intelligence tools to track financial fugitives. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of fraud cases involving public sector institutions such as BSNL and SBI. Notably, this case predates several high-profile banking fraud investigations that have since reshaped India's financial enforcement landscape. The CBI reiterated its commitment to tracking down absconders and ensuring accountability in fraud cases involving public sector entities.
Point of View
But these tools existed years before this arrest was made. The more uncomfortable question is why supplementary chargesheets naming accused persons do not automatically trigger faster enforcement action. With multiple high-profile banking fraud cases still dragging through Indian courts, this arrest is a data point — not a systemic fix.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manoj Kumar Sinha and why was he arrested?
Manoj Kumar Sinha, also known as Manoj Sinha, is an accused in a ₹60.86 lakh bank fraud case involving BSNL and SBI's M.G. Road branch in Shillong. He was arrested by the CBI from Patna on 28 April 2025 after evading arrest for nearly 14 years since the FIR was registered in 2012.
What was the BSNL-SBI fraud case about?
The case involves the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of ₹60.86 lakh from a BSNL account held at SBI's M.G. Road Main Branch in Shillong. The FIR was registered on 16 April 2012 based on a complaint by BSNL against unknown SBI and BSNL officials and other unidentified persons.
How did the CBI trace the absconding accused after so many years?
According to the CBI, Sinha was traced through a combination of field verification, technical and physical surveillance, call detail record (CDR) analysis, and open-source intelligence (OSINT). These efforts eventually located him at a new address in Patna, Bihar.
What happens to Manoj Kumar Sinha after his arrest?
Sinha will first be produced before a local court in Patna to secure a transit remand. He will then be taken to Shillong and produced before the Court of the Special Judge for further legal proceedings in the fraud case.
Who else has been charged in this case?
A chargesheet was filed on 23 December 2013 against Sanjeev Kumar Rai before the CJM Court in Shillong. A supplementary chargesheet naming Manoj Kumar Sinha and others was subsequently filed on 22 July 2021 after further investigation.
