#BreakingNews: Harnek Singh Brought Back From US By CBI After 13 Years

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has brought back long-absconding accused Harnek Singh from the United States after more than 13 years, officials said on Thursday. Singh, who had been evading investigation and trial since 2013 in a fraud case, was deported from the US and apprehended by CBI officials after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on September 9. He is expected to be produced before the Special Judicial Magistrate, CBI Cases, Panchkula, at the earliest.

The CBI had registered a case in 2016 involving allegations of conspiracy, cheating, forgery and using forged documents as genuine under the Indian Penal Code, along with offences under the Information Technology Act. According to the investigation, Indian nationals living or working in Singapore were allegedly targeted in 2013 by fraudsters operating from India through spoofed telephone calls. The accused allegedly posed as Singapore Immigration officials and threatened victims with legal action and deportation.

Officials said the victims were falsely told that they had provided incorrect information in their airport disembarkation forms and could face criminal prosecution. They were allegedly induced to pay purported settlement fees or fines through Western Union Money Transfer to designated recipients in India. The investigation found that the money was allegedly received through a money-transfer outlet operated by Harnek Singh in association with co-accused Aditya Bhardwaj and Deepak Jain.

Also Read: CBI Open To Probe Alleged Corruption Linked To Punjab Chief Minister’s Office

Singh allegedly fled India in May 2013 and later entered the United States illegally, where he remained unavailable to Indian investigating and judicial authorities for more than a decade. Proceedings against the other accused continued before the trial court during his absence. Bhardwaj and Jain were eventually convicted by the Special Judicial Magistrate, CBI, Panchkula, on May 26, 2025. Despite summons and a bailable warrant being served on Singh in the US through the US Department of Justice, he did not appear before the Indian court.

Following his continued non-appearance, the Panchkula court issued an open-dated non-bailable arrest warrant against Singh on April 22, 2024. The CBI subsequently intensified efforts to trace and bring him back through international law-enforcement channels, including Interpol mechanisms. An Interpol Red Notice was issued against him, while a Look-Out Circular was also opened against his passport. The agency said his deportation and apprehension demonstrate its continued efforts to pursue absconding accused through coordination with foreign authorities and international law-enforcement mechanisms.

Also Read: Rohit Pawar Questions CID Probe Into Ajit Pawar Crash, Seeks CBI Investigation