Delhi police have busted a cyber fraud syndicate with the arrest of two men, who operated through a network of shell companies to route defrauded money. The syndicate is linked to 176 complaints involving around Rs 180 crore in losses. The accused claim to have worked for Pawan Ruia, a West Bengal industrialist allegedly masterminding a Rs 317 crore scam.
The Cyber police station in New Delhi uncovered the racket while scrutinizing complaints received on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Investigators traced a bank account allegedly used to receive proceeds of cyber fraud. The account was registered under Kudremukh Trading (OPC) Private Limited, with an address on Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place.
Preliminary inquiries indicated the account served as a mule to receive and transfer cheated funds, with multiple complaints pointing to an organized, layered operation. An FIR was registered on November 19, 2025. Police found the company account opened in the name of Rajesh Khanna, linked to four NCRP complaints.
During questioning, Khanna disclosed he was made director at the behest of acquaintances Sushil Chawla and Rajesh Kumar, who controlled fund transfers. Khanna claimed around 20 other companies were floated to siphon off the defrauded money. Scrutiny of bank accounts tied to these firms revealed they were shell entities used to layer and divert cyber fraud proceeds across the country.
"During the probe, it was revealed Khanna had died in Noida. Chawla and Kumar initially joined the probe but did not cooperate and avoided answering any material questions… It came to light that Khanna was being used as a pawn on the directions of Chawla and Kumar," said DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla.
"…the two disclosed that they were working for Pawan Ruia, who is reportedly involved in similar cyber fraud cases in West Bengal," he added.
A complaint filed with West Bengal Police in April 2024 had exposed a complex network of over 140 shell companies allegedly leading back to Ruia, who is accused of swindling victims of more than Rs 317 crore. The arrests were part of Operation Cy-Hawk, targeting inter-state cyber fraud syndicates.
