In a significant development in a massive financial fraud case, the Kotwali police in Kanpur have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Swati Soni, the first wife of alleged Ponzi-scheme kingpin Ravindranath Soni. The case pertains to a major cheque bounce and fraud amounting to Rs 6 crore.
The NRI's Complaint and Broken Promises
The complaint was lodged by an NRI, Sandeep Pandey. According to the FIR, Pandey invested a substantial sum of 25 lakh dirhams, approximately Rs 6.10 crore, in a company named Bluechip. He was reportedly promised regular monthly returns until the financial year 2022-23. However, when he sought the repayment of his investment, the accused, Swati Soni, visited the company's office.
Pandey alleged that Swati Soni gave him assurances regarding the repayment and subsequently issued cheques to settle the dues. These cheques, unfortunately, bounced later, leading to the formal complaint. The plaint names three individuals: the main accused Ravindranath Soni, his associate Suraj Jumani, and Swati Soni herself.
The Vast Web of Deception and SIT Probe
This case is a part of a much larger scandal. Ravindranath Soni and his associates are accused of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded over 700 people across India and abroad. The total estimated fraud amount is a staggering Rs 1,500 crore.
Earlier, Soni was arrested by the Kotwali police from Dehradun in connection with a separate fraud case involving Rs 42.29 lakh within the Kotwali area. Given the international scale of the scam, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the conspiracy to defraud investors in countries including Dubai, Sharjah, Malaysia, France, and Japan.
Sham Divorce and Property Trail
The SIT's interrogation and investigation have revealed intriguing details about Swati Soni's alleged role. The probe suggests that she may own multiple properties in the National Capital Region (NCR). Investigators uncovered that Ravindranath Soni had divorced Swati in 2022 and, as part of a one-time settlement, transferred property worth crores of rupees to her.
However, the SIT suspects this divorce was a sham transaction. Evidence indicates that even after the legal separation, Swati was seen with Ravindranath on several occasions. When the police finally apprehended Ravindranath Soni, he was found to be living with his second wife, identified as Maghi alias Monica.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
The police are actively pursuing all angles of this complex case. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kotwali, Ashutosh Singh, confirmed that a notice has been issued to Swati Soni in connection with the latest FIR. He also stated that evidence is being gathered against the second wife, Monica, to determine her potential involvement in the fraudulent activities.
The SIT continues to investigate the full extent of the financial network, the movement of the defrauded funds, and the roles played by all accused persons in this multi-crore international Ponzi scheme.
