In a major development in a sprawling financial fraud case, the Kanpur Police Commissionerate is preparing to issue formal notices against three key individuals linked to alleged Ponzi scheme mastermind Ravindranath Soni. The scam, which has ensnared over 700 investors from India and abroad, is now estimated to have defrauded victims of a staggering Rs 1,500 crore.
Key Accused and International Reach of the Scam
The three individuals facing police action have been identified as Gurmeet Kaur, Divya, and Suraj Jumani. Investigators have found that they served as directors, managers, and administrators in Soni's primary company, Bluechip, and several related entities. Gurmeet is reported to be from Mumbai, Divya from Delhi, and Suraj Jumani from South India.
The fraud's net is wide, with victims hailing from countries including Dubai and Malaysia. Many have already emailed their complaints to the police, and more complainants are expected to visit the Police Commissioner's office in Kanpur in the coming days. To prevent the three from fleeing, the police are set to issue lookout notices at airports across the country. ADCP East Anjali Vishwakarma confirmed, "lookout notices will be issued for Gurmeet, Divya, and Suraj Jumani."
Expansive Network of Companies and Celebrity Links
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case has uncovered a complex web of companies used to solicit funds. Initially, it was found that besides Bluechip, investments were sought in 12 other companies, with five to six registered under the same license. This number was later revised by a senior SIT officer, who stated that investments were actually solicited in 17 other companies beyond Bluechip. Of these, four are based in India and six were registered under a single license.
In a curious twist, the SIT discovered a photo album featuring pictures of the accused with several celebrities, including actor Sonu Sood, Deepika Padukone, Dino Morea, Jacqueline Fernandez, and wrestler Khali (Dalip Singh Rana). The investigation has directly touched some of these figures; notices have been issued to Sonu Sood and Khali. While Sood responded via his lawyers, officials insisted on his physical presence in Kanpur to answer a list of 244 questions. Khali, having not responded, is likely to receive a reminder notice within a day or two.
Assets, Bank Accounts, and Ongoing Probe
The financial scale of the operation is massive. Police revealed that the mastermind and his network control 44 bank accounts and possess assets worth approximately Rs 37 crore. Investigators also traced an account in the name of Soni's ex-wife, Swati, which showed records of multiple money transfers.
The main accused, Ravindranath Soni, a resident of Malviya Nagar in Delhi, was previously arrested in Kanpur in a separate fraud case involving Rs 42.29 lakh. So far, a total of 15 FIRs have been registered in connection with the larger Ponzi scheme. The police are currently compiling a comprehensive report and gathering further evidence to build a watertight case against all involved.
As the SIT digs deeper, the estimated defrauded amount has ballooned from an expected Rs 1,000 crore to the current figure of Rs 1,500 crore, highlighting the vast and damaging reach of this sophisticated financial scam.
