Archive · 13 Nov 2025
West Bengal Cybercrime Probe Links Industrialist Pawan Ruia to Rs 317 Crore Scam
Imagine some bad guys created a big fake network to trick people out of their money.
They used fake online schemes, like fake investment opportunities, and even pretended to arrest people digitally through apps like WhatsApp.
They collected a lot of money, over 317 crore rupees, and tried to hide it by putting it into many fake companies.
Some of this money was even turned into digital money, like Bitcoin, to make it harder to find.
The police are investigating if a businessman named Pawan Ruia and his family were involved in this trick.
This isn't the first time this businessman has had legal trouble.
West Bengal cybercrime wing has uncovered an organized cybercrime network allegedly defrauding victims of over Rs 317 crore.
The probe, initiated from an April 2024 complaint, has linked 148 shell companies to the scam.
Victims were targeted through fraudulent investment schemes and 'digital arrest' scams on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Approximately Rs 170 crore of the illicit funds were converted into cryptocurrency to obscure the money trail.
Investigators are probing the alleged involvement of Indian industrialist Pawan Kumar Ruia and his family members, with Rahul Verma already arrested.
- Who
- West Bengal cybercrime wing, Indian industrialist Pawan Kumar Ruia, his family members, and an associate Rahul Verma
- What
- Uncovered a large organized cybercrime network allegedly swindling victims of over Rs 317 crore through fraudulent investment schemes and digital arrest scams.
- When
- The probe began following an April 2024 complaint, with search operations conducted on November 6 and 12, and an arrest made on November 1.
- Where
- Kolkata, West Bengal, with money trails leading to shell companies across India and cryptocurrency conversions.
- Why
- The network allegedly targeted victims through fraudulent investment schemes and digital arrest scams, with funds transferred to shell companies and converted to cryptocurrency to obscure the money trail.
- Total Estimated Fraud Amount
- Over Rs 317 crore
- Number of Shell Companies Linked
- 148
- Cryptocurrency Conversion
- Rs 170 crore
- NCCRP Fraud Complaints
- 1,379
- Registered Address Shared by 73 Companies
- 9, Ezra Street, Kolkata
- Arrested Associate
- Rahul Verma