SBI fraud case: CBI has arrested an individual who had been officially declared dead by the court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended V. Chalapathi Rao, a proclaimed offender who had eluded capture for 20 years in a high-profile bank fraud case. Remarkably, Rao had been legally declared dead by a court several years ago. The arrest, announced in a press release on August 5, 2024, followed an investigation that revealed Rao’s efforts to evade law enforcement by frequently changing his identity and locations.

The origins of the fraud case date back to May 2002, when the CBI first registered the case against Rao. At the time, Rao was employed as a computer operator at the State Bank of India (SBI) Chandulal Biradari Branch in Hyderabad. He was accused of defrauding the bank of ₹50 lakh. Rao’s fraudulent scheme involved submitting fabricated quotations from electronic shops and creating fake salary certificates in the names of his family members and close associates.

The CBI’s arrest of Rao is significant as it not only brings a long-standing fugitive to justice but also highlights the challenges of tracking individuals who use multiple identities to evade detection. The case underscores the importance of robust investigative practices and verification processes within both the banking and legal systems. Further investigation is expected to address how Rao managed to avoid detection for so long and to examine the full extent of his fraudulent activities.