Face Behind the Fraud: CBI Nabs ₹8 Crore Bank Scam Accused After 20 Years Using Image Search Tech
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Delhi 17, July, 2025- In a dramatic breakthrough, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Smt. Mani M. Sekhar, a long-absconding accused in a ₹8 crore bank fraud case, nearly two decades after she vanished. The arrest was made possible through cutting-edge image search technology that traced her digital footprint despite her changed identity.
The case, registered by CBI BSFB Bengaluru in August 2006, involved a criminal conspiracy between Smt. Mani M. Sekhar and her husband, Shri Ramanujam Muthuramalingam Sekhar, then directors of M/s Indo Marks Pvt. Ltd. and BTC Home Products Pvt. Ltd. Between 2002 and 2005, they allegedly defrauded the State Bank of India’s Overseas Branch in Bengaluru by misusing non-fund-based credit limits, causing a loss of ₹800 lakhs.
After the charge sheet was filed in December 2007, both accused evaded trial and were declared Proclaimed Offenders in 2009. Despite years of investigation and a reward of ₹50,000 announced for information, they remained untraceable—having changed their names, mobile numbers, PAN details, and other identifiers to Krishna Kumar Gupta and Geetha Krishna Kumar Gupta.
The breakthrough came when CBI analysts deployed advanced image comparison tools to scan digital traces. With over 90% photo match accuracy, the technology led investigators to Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where the accused were living under false identities. Field verification confirmed the match, but it was discovered that Shri R.M. Sekhar had died in 2008 under his new identity.
On July 12, 2025, Smt. Mani M. Sekhar was arrested and produced before the Bengaluru court, which remanded her to judicial custody. She now faces trial for her role in the massive financial fraud.
This case marks a milestone in tech-enabled law enforcement, showcasing how digital tools and relentless fieldwork can bring even the most elusive fugitives to justice.
