As per reports, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Nasreen Taj, the key accused in connection with the INR 12.63 crore bank fraud after seven years.

The accused was arrested in Bengaluru on Saturday (19 July), where she had been living under the false identity of “Ms. Salma” to evade authorities. The case, originally registered in 2009, alleged that the accused conspired to secure fraudulent loans and diverted bank funds for personal use, rather than for the stated agricultural purposes.

• Taj, who lacked any verifiable independent income, reportedly obtained an INR 1.2 crore temporary overdraft and INR 55 lakh in farm loans, only to use the money to settle the overdraft—a clear violation of loan terms.
• Despite being charge-sheeted as a key conspirator in 2010, Taj failed to appear in court after 2019, leading to multiple non-bailable warrants and her eventual declaration as a proclaimed offender in 2021.
• During her years on the run, she severed ties with family, changed her identity, and frequently relocated. The CBI’s success in locating her stemmed from a combination of digital footprint analysis, advanced surveillance, and persistent on-ground investigation.
• Following her arrest, Taj was produced before a competent court in Bengaluru and remanded to judicial custody, allowing the long-stalled trial to proceed.