The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Proclaimed Offender (PO) Sarit Vij @ Sarat Kumar Vij carrying a reward of Rs. 10,000 for his arrest in a case related to Customs Department fraud amounting to Rs.58 lakh approx. He was absconding since long.

CBI registered the instant case on 01.06.1999 against Joseph Kuok, Supdt. Inland Container Depot (ICD), Tughlakabad, Delhi, and others for cheating the customs department amounting to Rs. 58 lakh approximately. During investigation, role of Sarit Vij was established. He was partner in the firm M/s PS International, which filed the false duty drawback in the Customs Department for claim of Rs. 19 lakh. After completion of investigation, he was chargesheeted along with other co-accused persons.

During trial proceeding the accused Sarit Vij did not appear before the Hon’ble Court ever after filing of chargesheet in the year 2003. Further, persistent and sustained efforts were made to trace the accused during the course of Trial, however, he remained untraceable. After completion of all prescribed legal formalities, the accused Sarit Vij @ Sarat Kumar Vij was declared a Proclaimed Offender on 30.01.2004. A reward of Rs. 10,000 was also declared for providing informatrion about the aforesaid accused person.   

Subsequently, based on inputs collected during field verification, it was revealed that the accused Sarit Vij had changed his identity as Sarat Kumar Vij, having a residential address at Noida. The accused had changed his PAN card, Aadhaar card and Passport.

The CBI conducted a meticulous operation, duly supported by technical analysis, and successfully apprehended the Proclaimed Offender on 07.01.2026 at his new residence.

Proclaimed offender arrested in Rs. 58 lakh customs fraud after identity documents were altered and false duty drawback claims detected. Arrest reported of a person declared a Proclaimed Offender for involvement in a Customs Department fraud where a partner in a firm filed a spurious duty drawback claim as part of a larger Rs. 58 lakh scheme; after being chargesheeted the accused absconded, was proclaimed, a reward declared, changed identity documents, and was ultimately apprehended following field verification and technical analysis.