CBI arrests absconding accused in ₹8 cr bank fraud case in Indore

…Accused traced after two decades using image search tools

Indore (Team Newsbuddy): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully traced and arrested Mani M. Sekhar, a long-absconding Proclaimed Offender in a ₹8 crore bank fraud case.
The case was registered by CBI BSFB, Bengaluru, on 1.08.2006 against several accused, including Ramanujam Muthuramalingam Sekhar @ R.M. Sekhar, Managing Director of M/s Indo Marks Pvt. Ltd., and Mani M. Sekhar, Director of M/s Indo Marks & BTC Home Products Pvt. Ltd. They were charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy between 2002 and 2005 to dishonestly and fraudulently cheat the State Bank of India, Overseas Branch, Bengaluru, to the tune of ₹800 lakhs by misusing non-fund-based limits in the name of M/s Indo Marks Pvt. Ltd. and its sister concerns.
After completion of the investigation, a charge sheet was filed on 10.12.2007. Both the accused — husband and wife — failed to appear for trial or respond to summons and warrants. Consequently, they were declared Proclaimed Offenders by a court order dated 27.02.2009.
Despite sustained efforts over the years, the absconding accused remained untraceable, and CBI announced a reward of ₹50,000/- each for information leading to their arrest. While other co-accused were tried and either convicted or acquitted, the trial against these two remained pending.
The accused had changed their identities and avoided using any of their previous KYC details. They assumed new names — Krishna Kumar Gupta (husband) and Geetha Krishna Kumar Gupta (wife) — and also changed their mobile numbers, email IDs, PAN numbers, and other identifiers that had been used before the filing of the charge sheet.
The CBI employed advanced image search and comparison tools to analyze the digital footprints of the absconders. Through meticulous image analysis, investigators identified the accused living under their new names and identities in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Following field verification, a team of CBI officers successfully traced them to Indore.
It was revealed during the search that Ramanujam Muthuramalingam Sekhar @ R.M. Sekhar had passed away in 2008 under his assumed identity. His wife, Mani M. Sekhar, was arrested on 12.07.2025 and produced before the court in Bengaluru, which remanded her to judicial custody for further trial proceedings. She is now facing trial after evading the law for nearly two decades.
With photo-matching accuracy of over 90%, the image search tools enabled investigators to identify the accused despite their assumed identities. This case stands as a prime example of how technology-driven tools, combined with the dedication and perseverance of law enforcement officers, can significantly enhance the ability to track and apprehend long-absconding offenders.