BENGALURU– After an extraordinary 18-year pursuit, a woman who vanished following an alleged multi-crore bank fraud has finally been brought to justice. Mani M Sekhar, declared a proclaimed offender more than a decade ago, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a case that highlights the relentless nature of law enforcement and the growing power of artificial intelligence.
The Long Chase Ends
The saga began between 2002 and 2005, when Mani M Sekhar and her husband, Ramanujam Muthuramalingam Sekhar, were accused of orchestrating an Rs 8-crore fraud against the overseas branch of the State Bank of India in Bengaluru. The couple faced charges of cheating and conspiracy. However, when the time came to face the courts, they disappeared. In 2009, with no sign of them, a court declared them “proclaimed offenders,” a legal term for individuals who have absconded to avoid arrest or prosecution. For years, their whereabouts remained a mystery, leaving the case in a prolonged state of limbo.
AI’s Crucial Role
The breakthrough in this cold case came from an unexpected quarter: advanced technology. The CBI leveraged sophisticated AI-based image search capabilities to track down Mani M Sekhar. This innovative technology allowed investigators to compare existing photographs of the fugitive with a vast database of images, looking for matches even if the person had altered their appearance or adopted a new identity over the years. The AI system proved remarkably effective, achieving an impressive “over 90% photo matching” accuracy. This high level of precision was critical in identifying Mani M Sekhar despite her efforts to remain hidden.
A Life Under Wraps
During her nearly two decades on the run, Mani M Sekhar had meticulously built a new life under an assumed name. She was living as “Geetha Krishna Kumar Gupta.” Her husband, Ramanujam Muthuramalingam Sekhar, had also adopted a new identity, “Krishna Kumar Gupta,” but his evasion of justice ended earlier; he was found to have died in 2008. Mani M Sekhar’s ability to maintain her disguise for so long underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking down fugitives, but also highlights how digital footprints, however faint, can eventually lead to capture, especially with the aid of powerful analytical tools.
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Justice Delayed, Not Denied
The long arm of the law finally caught up with Mani M Sekhar in Indore, a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Following her arrest, she was promptly remanded into judicial custody. Her apprehension means that the trial proceedings, which have been stalled for over 15 years, can now finally move forward.