After years on the run, a key accused in a Rs 2.1 crore chit fund scam has finally been caught. How did the absconder evade investigators for so long and what does his arrest mean for thousands of cheated investors?
CBI nabs absconder for over Rs 2 crore chit fund fraud case
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Tanmoy Mirdha, an absconding accused in a major chit fund scam involving over ₹2 crore, bringing a long-pending case a step closer to resolution. The arrest was made on January 29, 2026, following sustained surveillance and technical tracking by the agency.
The case stems from a broader investigation into chit fund-related frauds in West Bengal and Odisha, initiated on the directions of the Supreme Court of India. The CBI registered the case on June 23, 2020, as part of its mandate to probe large-scale financial scams that allegedly defrauded thousands of small investors.
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According to officials, Tanmoy Mirdha was the Director of M/s Express Cultivation Limited, a Kolkata-based company accused of illegally mobilising public funds under the guise of lucrative investment schemes.
CBI investigations revealed that Mirdha, along with other accused persons, allegedly collected around ₹2.1 crore from the public by promising high returns. Instead of investing the money as claimed, the funds were allegedly misappropriated for personal gain, causing significant financial losses to investors.
The agency maintains that the accused deliberately misled depositors and violated multiple financial regulations in the process.
After completing the investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet in the case on February 4, 2022. However, Mirdha failed to cooperate with the investigation and did not appear before the authorities despite repeated notices.
As a result, the Court of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Kolkata, issued a warrant for his arrest and subsequently declared him an absconder.
CBI officials said the arrest was carried out after sustained efforts involving field verification and technical inputs. Acting on specific intelligence, a CBI team traced the accused to Brahma Nagar in Nadia district of West Bengal, where he was apprehended on January 29, 2026.
The accused is expected to be produced before the competent court, where further legal proceedings will follow.
The CBI stated that investigations into the wider network involved in the chit fund scam are ongoing. The agency reiterated its commitment to tracking down all accused persons involved in defrauding the public and ensuring accountability in large-scale financial fraud cases. The arrest is being seen as a significant breakthrough in the long-running chit fund scam investigation.
