New Delhi, Aug 10: A 32-year-old man, who worked as an accountant at a private company in Delhi, has been apprehended in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly misappropriating about Rs 1.96 crore from his employer nearly three years ago, police said on Monday.

The accused, Triloki Sharma, was arrested from a factory in J and K’s Samba district on August 4 with the assistance of local police, they said.

Police said the owner of a private company in Delhi filed a complaint at Samaypur Badli police station in August 2023, alleging that Sharma, who worked as an accountant, had siphoned off the money entrusted to him as part of his official duties.

After allegedly committing the offence, police said, Sharma absconded and went into hiding to evade arrest. A team was constituted which tracked Sharma for three years and finally traced him to Samba, where he was apprehended.

Sharma disclosed, during interrogation, that he had transferred portions of the siphoned money into several bank accounts belonging to his acquaintances.

“He also disclosed that he was fond of gambling and had lost a substantial amount of money in illegal betting on cricket matches,” a senior police officer said.

Police said the claims made by the accused are being verified and the flow of the allegedly misappropriated money is being traced.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the total amount diverted, identify the recipients of the funds and determine the complete financial trail, police said.–(PTI)