Archive · 6 Aug 2026
CBI arrests deported fugitive couple in investment fraud case
A man and his wife are in trouble with the police.
They ran a company that asked people to give them money.
In return, they promised everyone a lot of extra money every month.
But instead of paying people back, they kept the money for themselves.
When the police started to investigate, the couple ran away to another country.
The police in India kept looking for them and asked other countries around the world to help.
Finally, the couple was sent back to India.
When they arrived, the police arrested them.
Now they will have to answer for what they did.
The CBI arrested deported fugitives Avinash Arjun Rathod and his wife Vishakha Rathod, wanted in a multi-crore investment fraud case.
Avinash was deported from the UAE on July 23 and Vishakha on August 3; Pune police had detained them for questioning after deportation.
The couple allegedly cheated a large number of investors between March 2018 and 2023 by promising 10 per cent interest per month on investments.
They had fled India in June 2023 after the Pune police's economic offences wing launched an investigation in July 2023, prompting Interpol Red Corner notices.
India has brought back 274 fugitive criminals from 36 countries between 2019 and July 2026 and attached assets worth ₹17,874 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
- Who
- Avinash Arjun Rathod and his wife Vishakha Rathod, arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
- What
- The couple was arrested in connection with a multi-crore investment fraud case involving false promises of assured fixed monthly returns.
- When
- Avinash was deported on July 23 and Vishakha on August 3; the CBI announced the arrest on a Wednesday.
- Where
- The couple was deported from the UAE and detained by Pune police before being arrested by the CBI in India.
- Why
- They allegedly cheated a large number of investors between March 2018 and 2023 by offering 10 per cent monthly interest through fraudulent investment schemes and misappropriating the funds.
- Accused
- Avinash Arjun Rathod and Vishakha Rathod
- Case
- Multi-crore investment fraud
- Fraud period
- March 2018 to 2023
- Deportation dates
- July 23 (Avinash), August 3 (Vishakha)
- Deported from
- UAE
- Promised returns
- 10 per cent interest per month
- Investigation started
- July 2023, by Pune police's economic offences wing
- Fugitives returned to India
- 274 from 36 countries between 2019 and July 2026