In a major breakthrough, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully concluded a hunt spanning over a decade by arresting a wanted accused linked to a multi-crore bank fraud case. The arrest was made from Banswara on Friday, bringing a long-standing investigation closer to resolution.
Arrests Made in Coordinated Operations
According to an official statement released by the agency, accused Sanjay Sharma, who also goes by the alias Sanjeev Dixit, was apprehended from Banswara. In a simultaneous operation, another proclaimed offender in the same case, Sheetal Sharma alias Aarti Sharma, was held in Gujarat. These arrests highlight the CBI's persistent efforts to bring fugitives to justice.
Background of the Accused
Sanjay Sharma is named as an accused in two separate cases and was declared a proclaimed offender in these matters in 2016 and 2017. Sheetal Sharma was named in one case, where she was declared a proclaimed offender in 2016. Their long evasion of law enforcement had posed significant challenges to the investigations.
Details of the Fraud Cases
The first case against Sanjay Sharma dates back to 2013 and involves a substantial amount of Rs 9.9 crore. This case also implicates Sheetal Sharma, along with Punjab National Bank officials and unknown persons. The second case, registered the same year, involves Rs 4 crore and targets Sanjay Sharma and others. These cases underscore the scale of the alleged financial misconduct.
Previous Arrest and Escape
Sanjay Sharma had a prior encounter with law enforcement when he was arrested by Haryana Police in 2014. However, he managed to escape from custody while being produced before a Sonipat court. Since that incident, he remained absconding, evading capture for years and complicating the legal proceedings.
Investigation Techniques Used
The CBI employed a multi-faceted approach to trace both proclaimed offenders. Coordinated efforts were intensified, involving extensive collection and analysis of open-source intelligence. This revealed that Sanjay Sharma was living under the assumed identity of Pankaj Bhardwaj, demonstrating his attempts to conceal his true identity.
Advanced techniques such as data analytics and human intelligence were utilized to identify mobile numbers associated with the accused. Analyses of mobile data and financial transactions played a crucial role in narrowing down the locations of the two fugitives, enabling their eventual capture.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Following their arrests, both Sanjay Sharma and Sheetal Sharma were presented before competent courts. Transit warrants have been issued to move them to New Delhi for further investigations. This step is essential for advancing the cases and ensuring that justice is served in these high-profile bank fraud matters.
The successful arrests mark a significant milestone in the CBI's ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes and bring offenders to book, reinforcing the agency's commitment to upholding the law.
