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Bengal Police Name Industrialist Pawan Ruia in Rs 317-Crore Cyberfraud Probe

Investigators say the network used 148 shell firms with interlocked boards to move funds into cryptocurrency.

Overview

  • A suo motu FIR was registered on November 5 at the Barrackpore Cyber Crime Police Station naming Ruia, his family members and associates.
  • Police say at least 1,379 complainants across India were cheated of roughly Rs 317 crore in an online fraud scheme.
  • According to the police statement, the funds moved through accounts of 148 shell companies, many sharing the same registered address, before being siphoned to mule accounts.
  • Preliminary findings indicate about Rs 170 crore of the diverted money was converted into cryptocurrency to frustrate tracing and freezing.
  • Cybercrime teams conducted coordinated searches last Thursday at Ruia-linked premises in Kolkata, including Ruia Centre, Dunlop Industrial Products on Park Street, Berger House and his Ballygunge residence, and Ruia has not responded to requests for comment.