In a significant crackdown on organized cybercrime, the Delhi Police has dismantled a sophisticated fraud syndicate, arresting two key operatives. The network, which operated through a maze of shell companies, is linked to a staggering 176 cyber fraud complaints involving approximately Rs 180 crore.
The Arrests and the Syndicate's Operation
The police identified and arrested Sushil Chawla (58) from Greater Noida and Rajesh Kumar (39) from Gurgaon. The duo is accused of managing a complex web of mule bank accounts used to route money defrauded from victims across the country. The racket was uncovered by the Cyber police station of the New Delhi district during a meticulous analysis of complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
Investigators zeroed in on a specific account registered in the name of Kudremukh Trading (OPC) Private Limited, with an address on Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place. This account was flagged as a major hub for receiving and transferring illicit funds. An FIR was registered on November 19, 2025, marking the formal start of the probe.
Unraveling the Web of Shell Companies
The probe revealed that the company account was opened in the name of one Rajesh Khanna. When questioned, Khanna disclosed that he was made a director of the company at the behest of Chawla and Kumar, who actually controlled the financial transactions. Khanna further claimed that around 20 other companies were floated with the sole purpose of layering and siphoning off the cheated money.
Scrutiny confirmed these firms were shell entities with no genuine business, used to obscure the trail of funds generated through nationwide cyber frauds. DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla stated that Khanna, who later died in Noida, was used as a pawn. Chawla and Kumar initially joined the probe but were uncooperative, avoiding crucial questions.
The Alleged Kingpin and Wider Network
During sustained interrogation, the arrested men made a startling revelation. They allegedly claimed to be working for Pawan Ruia, a West Bengal-based industrialist. Ruia is reportedly involved in similar cyber fraud cases in his home state and is alleged to be the kingpin of a vast network that has swindled victims of over Rs 317 crore.
This claim aligns with a separate complaint filed with West Bengal Police in April 2024, which had led investigators to a network of over 140 shell companies allegedly linked back to Ruia. The Delhi case adds a new, significant dimension to the ongoing investigations into his activities.
The bust highlights the evolving threat of cybercrime syndicates using corporate structures to legitimize and hide illegal proceeds. It also underscores the critical role of coordinated efforts and data analysis from platforms like the NCRP in tracing and dismantling such layered financial networks.
