CBI Arrests V. Chalapathi Rao, Proclaimed Offender in Bank Fraud Case, After 20 Years
New Delhi, India – On August 4, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested V. Chalapathi Rao, a Proclaimed Offender (PO), who had been on the run for nearly 20 years. Rao was wanted in a bank fraud case involving the State Bank of India (SBI) and had been evading capture by frequently changing his identity and location.
Background of the Case
The CBI registered a case against Rao on May 1, 2002. At the time, he was a computer operator at SBI’s Chandulal Biradari Branch in Hyderabad. Rao was accused of cheating the bank out of Rs 50 lakh by using fake quotations from electronic shops and creating false salary certificates in the names of his family members and close associates. The CBI completed its investigation and filed two chargesheets on December 31, 2004. However, Rao had already gone missing by then.
Efforts to Evade Capture
Rao’s wife, who is also an accused in the fraud case, reported him missing in 2004 and even filed a petition to declare him dead. Despite these efforts, Rao was declared a Proclaimed Offender on April 18, 2013. Over the years, Rao changed his identity multiple times, moving from place to place. He married again in 2007 under the name M. Vineet Kumar and obtained a new Aadhaar number. He lived in various locations, including Salem, Bhopal, Rudrapur, and an ashram in Aurangabad, where he continued his fraudulent activities.
Final Capture
The CBI finally tracked Rao to Narsinganallur village in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He was arrested on August 4 and produced before the Special Judges for CBI Cases in Hyderabad. Rao will remain in judicial custody until August 16, 2024.
Doubts Revealed
CBI -: CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation. It is India’s main agency for investigating serious crimes like corruption and fraud.
Proclaimed Offender -: A Proclaimed Offender is someone who has been declared by a court as a person who is avoiding arrest or trial. It means the person is hiding from the law.
Bank Fraud -: Bank fraud is when someone illegally takes money from a bank or its customers. It is a serious crime.
SBI -: SBI stands for State Bank of India. It is one of the largest and oldest banks in India.
Hyderabad -: Hyderabad is a big city in India, known for its technology industry and historical sites.
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its temples, culture, and education.
Judicial Custody -: Judicial Custody means that a person is kept in jail by the order of a court while they are waiting for their trial or investigation to be completed.
