The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured the return of long-absconding accused Harnek Singh, who had been evading investigation and trial since 2013.
Singh was deported from the United States and apprehended by CBI officials after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on September 9, according to a CBI press release.
What is the case against Harnek Singh?
The case relates to allegations of conspiracy, cheating, forgery and using forged documents as genuine, along with offences under the Information Technology Act. The CBI registered the case in 2016.
According to the investigation, Indian nationals living or working in Singapore were targeted in 2013 by fraudsters operating from India. The accused allegedly made spoofed calls while impersonating officials of Singapore’s immigration authorities.
The victims were falsely told that they had provided incorrect information in their airport disembarkation forms and could face criminal prosecution and deportation.
They were subsequently allegedly pressured into paying settlement fees or fines through Western Union Money Transfer to designated recipients in India.
The investigation found that the cheated money was received through a money-transfer outlet operated by Harnek Singh in association with co-accused Aditya Bhardwaj and Deepak Jain.
Singh fled India in May 2013 and later allegedly entered the US illegally, where he remained absconding for more than a decade.
Co-accused convicted in 2025
While Singh remained absconding, proceedings against co-accused Aditya Bhardwaj and Deepak Jain were completed before the Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI Cases), Panchkula.
Both were convicted on May 26, 2025.
Despite summons and a bailable warrant being served on him in the US through the US Department of Justice, Singh failed to appear before the trial court.
The Special Judicial Magistrate, CBI, Panchkula, subsequently issued an open-dated non-bailable warrant against him on April 22, 2024.
Interpol Red Notice issued
The CBI then pursued the matter through Interpol channels, leading to the publication of an Interpol Red Notice against Singh. A Look-Out Circular (LOC) was also opened against his passport.
Following his deportation from the US, CBI officials apprehended Singh at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on September 9.
He will be produced before the Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI Cases), Panchkula, Haryana, at the earliest, the CBI said.
