CBI uses AI image search to arrest bank fraud fugitive after 20 years
The CBI arrested a woman who had evaded authorities for 20 years in an Rs 8 crore bank fraud case using AI-powered image search and facial recognition technology that achieved over 90 percent photo matching accuracy to identify her despite her assumed identity.
What happened
The CBI arrested Mani M. Sekhar on July 12, 2025, after she evaded authorities for nearly 20 years in connection with an Rs 8 crore bank fraud case dating to 2002-2005. She and her husband had been declared proclaimed offenders in 2009 after failing to appear before court despite summonses.
The CBI used artificial intelligence-powered image search and facial recognition tools to trace Sekhar, who had assumed a new identity as Geetha Krishna Kumar Gupta and changed all traceable details including mobile numbers, email addresses, PAN and KYC information. The image search tools achieved photo matching levels exceeding 90 percent to identify her in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Reported impact
Sekhar's husband, Ramanujam Muthuramalingam Sekhar, had died in 2008 while living under his assumed identity as Krishna Kumar Gupta and did not face trial. Sekhar was arrested and presented before a Bengaluru court, which sent her to judicial custody for trial proceedings.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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