CBI secures return of accused in Singapore fraud case from US

Accused Harnek Singh, against whom Interpol Red Notices and Lookout Circular (LOC) were in effect, was deported from the United States and taken into CBI custody on his arrival at Delhi Airport on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Photo credit: Special arrangement

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured the return to India of a person who had evaded investigation and trial since 2013. He was wanted in a case alleging that Indian nationals residing in Singapore were targeted by fraudsters through scam calls.

Accused Harnek Singh, against whom an Interpol Red Notice and Look-Out Circular (LOC) were in force, was deported from the United States and taken into CBI custody after his arrival at the Delhi airport on Wednesday (September 9, 2026).

He will be produced before a special court in Haryana’s Panchkula.

The CBI unit in Delhi had registered a case in 2016 on charges of conspiracy, cheating, forgery and using forged documents as genuine ones.

“Investigations revealed that during 2013, Indian nationals living or working in Singapore were contacted through fake calls by fraudsters operating from India posing as Singapore immigration officials,” he said on Thursday.

Victims were falsely informed that they provided incorrect information on airport disembarkation forms and faced criminal prosecution and deportation. They were then asked to pay the alleged settlement fees/penalties via Western Union money transfer to the designated beneficiaries in India.

According to the CBI, its investigation established that the defrauded money was received through a money transmitter run by Harnek Singh in association with co-accused Aditya Bhardwaj and Deepak Jain.

“Defendant Harnek Singh fled India in May 2013 and subsequently illegally entered the US, where he remained in hiding for more than a decade,” the agency said.

The trial against co-accused Aditya Bhardwaj and Deepak Jain was concluded in the Panchkula court and both were sentenced on 26 May 2025.

“Despite the summons and bail warrant served on him in the US through the US Department of Justice, Harnek Singh failed to appear before the trial court. As a result, the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him…,” the CBI said.

The agency then pursued the matter through Interpol channels, leading to the publication of a Red Notice against him. A sightseeing circular was also opened.

Published – 10 Sep 2026 12:45 PM IST