The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Rajesh Bothra, a Singapore-based accused, in a bank fraud case involving ₹31.60 crore. He was arrested on 13 November 2025 after the agency received information about his arrival in India. CBI officers traced him to Hotel Andaz and Hyatt Residences in Aerocity, New Delhi.
The case was registered after Punjab National Bank (PNB) filed a complaint against the company M/s Frost Infrastructure and Energy Pvt. Ltd. (FIEL), its directors, unknown persons, and unknown public servants. The complaint stated that the company had cheated the bank by fraudulently using its Foreign Letter of Credit (FLC) limit.
During the investigation, the CBI found that Rajesh Bothra played a key role in the fraud. He allegedly worked with the company and its directors to create fake and forged Bills of Lading, which falsely showed business transactions between FIEL and two foreign companies — M/s FAREAST and M/s Gulf Distribution Ltd.
According to the CBI, these documents were completely bogus. No actual sale, purchase, or movement of goods ever took place. Investigations revealed that both foreign companies were actually controlled and operated by Rajesh Bothra himself. The forged documents were then submitted to PNB, allowing FIEL to siphon off the LC funds and causing a loss of around ₹32 crore to the bank.
The agency also said that Rajesh Bothra is an accused in several other cases registered by the CBI Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Lucknow. He had already been chargesheeted in those cases but never appeared for questioning or trial. He has also been wanted in many other bank fraud and economic offence cases.
The CBI said that his arrest will help them question him in the ongoing investigation and ensure that he appears before trial courts in the pending cases. It will also prevent him from fleeing India again. Rajesh Bothra will be produced before the concerned trial court on 14 November 2025.
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