Bhubaneswar: A former postmaster, who managed to evade arrest for over a decade in a deposit fraud case, was finally arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Odisha on Thursday.The accused, identified as Shabda Swain, had served as branch postmaster at Bonda in Bargarh district between 2008 and 2014. CBI officials alleged that she siphoned off nearly Rs 14 lakh by falsifying passbook entries and failing to record deposits in official accounts during the period.“While a case was registered against her in 2014, she remained absconding ever since charges were framed against her in the CBI court at Bhubaneswar in Dec 2015. Despite a non‑bailable warrant issued in 2022, she managed to stay underground until sustained surveillance and persistent efforts led to her arrest,” a CBI source said.Officials stated she was arrested from Bargarh while attending a family function, ending years of evasion. “Her modus operandi was to fabricate passbook entries to mislead depositors while diverting funds for personal gain. The prolonged absence complicated trial proceedings, making Thursday’s arrest a significant breakthrough,” another official noted.Swain was produced before the competent court in Bhubaneswar. The agency plans custodial interrogation to trace the misappropriated funds and determine whether others were involved in the fraud.