Pawan Ruia Questioned in ₹315-Crore Cyber Fraud Case After High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail

Pawan Ruia Cyber Fraud Case: High Court Bail Amid Ongoing Investigation

Industrialist Pawan Ruia, along with his son and daughter, was questioned for over eight hours by the West Bengal Police Cyber Crime Wing in Kolkata on Monday, January 5, in connection with an alleged large-scale cyber fraud and money-laundering case. The interrogation was conducted by senior cyber crime officials at the Cyber Crime Office, days after the Calcutta High Court granted the family anticipatory bail.

The case pertains to allegations that proceeds from multiple online scams across India were routed through bank accounts linked to shell companies and individuals associated with the Ruia family. The defence argued before the High Court that the arrest warrant issued on December 22, 2025, under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), was unlawful and violated earlier judicial protection granted to the accused.

Counsel for Pawan Ruia submitted that the BNSS mandates a balance between investigative requirements and the protection of personal liberty. It was further highlighted that the Supreme Court had directed that no coercive steps be taken for a limited period, and that a petition seeking quashing of the FIR is currently pending before a Coordinate Bench of the High Court. Taking these submissions into account, the Court granted anticipatory bail to Ruia and his family members.

Despite the bail order, sources within the West Bengal Police Cyber Crime Wing stated that custodial interrogation remains essential to the investigation. Police officials expressed concern that the Court’s decision could hinder efforts to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy. According to investigators, the case involves cyber fraud of an unprecedented magnitude, spanning a complex network of at least 186 shell companies and corporate entities.

The police allege that mule bank accounts, decentralised digital payment systems, and cryptocurrency wallets were used to launder illicit proceeds, making physical custody of the accused crucial for technical decryption and evidence recovery. Investigators have maintained that only custodial interrogation can effectively unmask the operational hierarchy and financial trail of the syndicate.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered suo motu by the cybercrime wing following an internal probe that traced approximately ₹315 crore from various cyber fraud cases to bank accounts linked to the Ruia family. Data from the National Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) indicates that 1,379 complaints had been lodged against these accounts as of October 31, 2025, with over 100 complaints originating from West Bengal.

A key accused in the case is Rahul Verma (27), a Delhi-based individual currently in police custody, who is alleged to be closely associated with the Ruia family and to have played a crucial role in the money-laundering operations. Investigators claim that nearly ₹170 crore was converted into cryptocurrency as part of the laundering process.

Authorities have described the case as a highly organised, technologically sophisticated cybercrime syndicate, active since 2024, which allegedly defrauded more than 1,000 victims across India through fake investment platforms, “digital arrest” scams, and other online financial fraud schemes. The investigation remains ongoing as the police explore legal avenues to pursue further action despite the grant of anticipatory bail.

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