CBI arrests Singapore scam accused Harnek Singh after deportation from US
PTC News Desk: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) secured the deportation 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 he arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The case
The case involves allegations of criminal 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, fraudsters based in India targeted Indian nationals living or working in Singapore in 2013. They allegedly made spoofed calls while posing as officials from Singapore’s Immigration authorities.
The victims were falsely told that they had provided incorrect details in their airport disembarkation forms and could face criminal prosecution and deportation.
The fraudsters then allegedly forced the victims to pay fake settlement fees or fines through Western Union Money Transfer to designated recipients in India.
The investigation found that the money was received through a money-transfer outlet operated by Harnek Singh, allegedly in association with co-accused Aditya Bhardwaj and Deepak Jain.
Singh reportedly fled India in May 2013 and later entered the US illegally. He remained absconding for more than a decade.
- With inputs from agencies
