CBI secures return of Harnek Singh from U.S. in Singapore spoof-calling scam case

New Delhi, September 10, 2026: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully secured the return to India of long-absconding accused Harnek Singh, who had been evading investigation and trial since 2013.The accused Harnek Singh, against whom an Interpol Red Notice and a Look-Out Circular (LOC) were in force, was deported from the USA and apprehended by CBI officials on his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on September 9, 2026. He would be produced before the Court of the Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI Cases), Panchkula, Haryana, at the earliest.The CBI has secured the return of long-absconding accused Harnek Singh, who was evading investigation and trial since 2013. An Interpol Red Notice and Look-Out Circular were issued against him. Singh was deported from the USA and apprehended by CBI officials upon arrival at… pic.twitter.com/PxyGynDZ9W— IANS (@ians_india) September 10, 2026Singapore Scam CaseA case was registered by CBI, Delhi, in 2016 for offences of conspiracy, cheating, forgery and using forged documents as genuine under IPC and for offences under the Information Technology Act.Investigation revealed that during 2013, Indian nationals residing or working in Singapore were contacted through spoofed calls by fraudsters operating from India, who impersonated officials of Singapore Immigration authorities. The victims were falsely informed that they had furnished incorrect information in their disembarkation forms at the airport and were liable to criminal prosecution and deportation. They were thereafter induced to pay purported settlement fees/fines through Western Union Money Transfer to designated receivers in India.The investigation established 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. The accused Harnek Singh fled India in May 2013 and subsequently entered the USA illegally, where he remained absconding for more than a decade.Co-Accused ConvictedWhile Harnek Singh continued to remain absconding, the trial against co-accused Aditya Bhardwaj and Deepak Jain was concluded before the above Court and both were convicted on May 26, 2025.Despite summons and a bailable warrant having been served upon him in the USA through the U.S. Department of Justice, Harnek Singh failed to appear before the trial Court. Consequently, an open-dated non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued against him by the Court of the Special Judicial Magistrate, CBI, Panchkula, on April 22, 2024. Also Watch: CBI Registers Disproportionate Assets Case Against Former East Coast Railway DRM Over ₹2.19 Crore Alleged Illegal AssetsThe CBI thereafter pursued the matter through Interpol channels, resulting in the publication of an Interpol Red Notice against him, and also caused a Look-Out Circular to be opened against his passport.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Harnek Singh, absconding since 2013 in a case involving spoof calls targeting Indian nationals in Singapore, deported from the U.S. and taken into CBI custody