The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Satyendra Kumar, a proclaimed offender wanted in Bihar’s multi-crore fodder scam cases, after he evaded arrest for more than 25 years. He was apprehended at Lucknow railway station while travelling from Guna in Madhya Pradesh to Lucknow.
According to a CBI spokesperson, Kumar was named in one of the agency’s charge sheets filed in 2001. He allegedly absconded after the charge sheet was filed and failed to appear before the court for trial, following which a permanent arrest warrant was issued against him.
The agency said it conducted extensive efforts to trace Kumar, using physical and technical surveillance along with human intelligence. These efforts led investigators to Nepal, where he had reportedly been staying before recently entering India.
A dedicated CBI team was deployed at Lucknow railway station to arrest him. He was apprehended around midnight on Thursday as the train arrived at the station. The agency said Kumar was being taken to Ranchi on transit remand. However, it did not disclose details of his alleged role in the fodder scam.
The fodder scam involved alleged fraudulent withdrawals of approximately ₹950 crore from government treasuries in undivided Bihar between 1992 and 1995. The money was allegedly withdrawn using forged bills for fodder, medicines and equipment. The scam comprises 55 cases.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was Bihar chief minister during part of the period, has been convicted in five related cases involving fraudulent withdrawals from the Chaibasa, Deoghar, Dumka and Doranda treasuries.
In July 2026, the Supreme Court declined to cancel the bail granted to Yadav in 2021 in connection with the fodder scam cases.
