In a significant crackdown on financial crime, the Delhi Police on Thursday apprehended two individuals accused of masterminding a vast network of shell companies. This elaborate setup was allegedly used to launder a staggering sum of approximately Rs 180 crore, siphoned from victims of cyber frauds across India.
The Unraveling of a Multi-Crore Scam
Investigations revealed a complex web of 20 shell companies, most operating from New Delhi, designed to layer and conceal the illicit origin of funds. The police have connected a shocking 176 separate cyber fraud complaints to transactions routed through these entities. A dedicated team, led by DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla and supervised by Additional DCP Anand Mishra, traced the money trail.
The probe zeroed in on a pivotal bank account registered at an address on Delhi's Barakhamba Road. Forensic analysis of transaction patterns strongly indicated it was being used as a mule account to aggregate the fraudulent proceeds. This account was officially registered in the name of one Rajesh Khanna, against whom four cyber fraud cases were already filed.
The Pawn and The Puppeteers
During questioning, Khanna stated that he became a director and opened the account on the instructions of two acquaintances, Sushil Chawla and Rajesh Kumar Sharma. He claimed that operational control over the fund transfers remained entirely with Chawla and Sharma, who also facilitated the creation of the other shell companies to channel the cheated money.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, Rajesh Khanna was found dead in a Noida hotel on December 7, 2025, after reportedly suffering a heart attack, while the investigation was ongoing. Meanwhile, the other accused, Chawla and Sharma, who initially participated in the probe, later stopped cooperating.
Digital Evidence and Wider Links
Examination of their mobile phones yielded crucial evidence, including suspicious chats related to the shell company accounts. Based on this digital trail and other findings, police concluded that Khanna was likely used as a pawn by the main accused. A deeper look into the financial records confirmed that these companies were instrumental in routing proceeds from cyber crimes reported nationwide.
In a startling claim made during interrogation, Chawla and Sharma alleged they were acting on behalf of industrialist Pawan Ruia, who is reportedly involved in analogous cyber fraud cases in West Bengal. The police have also written to the Registrar of Companies to obtain detailed documentation on all the implicated firms as the investigation continues to expand.
This bust highlights the sophisticated methods employed by cyber criminals to sanitize stolen money and the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking and dismantling such networks.
