CBI arrests absconding accused in Rs 17 crore Odisha chit fund scam

Bhubaneswar, Aug 30 (AHN) Taking fresh action in a chit-fund scam in Odisha, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested an absconding accused who misappropriated more than Rs 17 crore of gullible depositors, an official said on Sunday.

Debabrata Dutta, former proprietor of DNB Food Processing Private Limited, was arrested in West Bengal's Siliguri, the CBI said.

Earlier, the CBI said that Dutta did not cooperate with the investigation.

He (Debabrata Dutta) was declared absconder in the chargesheet filed on December 26, 2022 in the matter for commission of offences under sections of IPC and Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes Banning Act, 1978, the central agency added.

A Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) was issued against Dutta on August 5, 2024.

The accused was traced on the basis of source information and finally arrested on Friday from Siliguri.

He is being brought on transit remand from Siliguri and will be produced before the competent court in Bhubaneswar, the CBI said.

In a separate case, the CBI on August 21 arrested a Proclaimed Offender (PO) who had absconded for nearly 23 years in connection with a case involving the criminal misappropriation of goods worth Rs 9 lakh from trucks carrying them to customers.

Roop Singh was arrested after sustained efforts by the probe agency, according to a statement issued by the CBI.

Earlier, co-accused Arjun Singh was arrested on November 7, 2025, after remaining absconding for nearly 22 years.

The CBI case originated from a case dated October 4, 1998, registered at Amalner Police Station in Maharashtra, regarding the alleged theft and misappropriation of goods, including ghee and mung, loaded in two trucks.

It was alleged that on September 27, 1998, two truck drivers, Babu Khan and Aslam Khan, stole and misappropriated the goods.

The High Court of Judicature of Bombay at Aurangabad, vide its order dated February 25, 2002, in criminal writ petition dated November 27, 2000, directed the transfer of the investigation of the case immediately to the CBI.

Accordingly, the CBI re-registered the case on April 5, 2002, as a 1998 theft and criminal misappropriation case involving goods loaded in two trucks that was transferred to the central agency in 2002 against Babu Khan, Aslam Khan and others.

"After the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on December 19, 2003, before the Court of the JMFC at Amalner against Roop Singh, Arjun Singh, Babu Khan and Aslam Khan for offences relating to criminal misappropriation, conspiracy and abetment," the central agency said.

The CBI added that the investigation revealed that Roop Singh and Arjun Singh, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with the two truck drivers, criminally misappropriated goods intended for delivery to another party.