Punpun (Bihar): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, November 5, arrested Raja Bihari, a proclaimed offender who had been absconding for nearly two decades, from Punpun in Bihar in connection with a bank fraud case dating back to the early 2000s, the agency said in a statement reported by Nation Press.

Source: Nation Press

According to the CBI, the accused allegedly obtained a loan from Allahabad Bank's Patliputra Colony branch in Patna in conspiracy with bank officials and middlemen, on the basis of forged title deeds, fabricated property documents and fake guarantor credentials. The CBI had registered the case against 21 accused, including Raja Bihari, under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, The Rahnuma reported, quoting the CBI statement.

Source: The Rahnuma / CBI statement

21Accused named in the CBI case
30 Oct 2009Date the CBI filed its charge sheet
12 Nov 2009Date the Special CBI Court took cognisance
~18 yearsPeriod the accused remained a proclaimed offender on the run

After investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on October 30, 2009 against all 21 accused, and the Special CBI Court took cognisance of it on November 12, 2009. Raja Bihari, however, did not join the investigation, remained absconding from the beginning and evaded trial, after which the Special Court declared him a Proclaimed Offender, the agency said.

Source: Nation Press

Acting on intelligence inputs and sustained efforts, a dedicated CBI team traced and apprehended him from Punpun on Thursday, the statement said. The allegations against him are yet to be decided by the court, and further legal proceedings will follow his production before the competent court.

Source: The Rahnuma / CBI statement