3 min readNew DelhiJan 3, 2026 07:29 AM IST
First published on: Jan 3, 2026 at 07:25 AM IST
With the arrest of two men accused of routing defrauded money through mule bank accounts, Delhi Police on Friday said it has busted a cyber fraud syndicate operating through a network of shell companies.
In all, 176 cyber fraud complaints, involving around Rs 180 crore, were found linked to the accounts operated through these companies.
Police identified the accused as Sushil Chawla (58), a resident of Greater Noida, and Rajesh Kumar (39), a resident of Gurgaon.
During questioning, the two allegedly claimed they were working for Pawan Ruia, an industrialist from West Bengal, who is reportedly involved in similar cyber fraud cases in the state. Police claimed Ruia is the alleged kingpin of a vast cybercrime network, which has swindled victims of over Rs 317 crore. A complaint filed with West Bengal Police in April 2024 had led police to a complex network of over 140 shell companies that allegedly led back to Ruia.
The Cyber police station of the New Delhi district uncovered the racket during scrutiny of complaints received on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Investigators traced one bank account allegedly being used to receive proceeds of cyber fraud.
The account was registered in the name of Kudremukh Trading (OPC) Private Limited, with an address on Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place, police said. Preliminary inquiry suggested that the account was being used as a mule account to receive and transfer cheated funds, with multiple complaints pointing to an organised but layered operation.
An FIR into the matter was registered on November 19, 2025. Police said they found that the company account was opened in the name of one Rajesh Khanna. While probing complaints linked to the account, police identified four NCRP complaints against it.
Brought in for questioning, Khanna disclosed that he had been made director of the company at the instance of his acquaintances Chawla and Kumar, who allegedly controlled fund transfers, police said.
Khanna further claimed that around 20 other companies were floated to siphon off the cheated money. Scrutiny of bank accounts linked to these firms showed that they were shell companies allegedly used to layer and divert funds generated through cyber fraud across the country.
“During the probe, it was revealed Khanna had died in Noida. Chawla and Kumar initially joined the probe but did not cooperate and avoided answering any material questions… It came to light that Khanna was being used as a pawn on the directions of Chawla and Kumar,” said DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla.
“…the two disclosed that they were working for Pawan Ruia, who is reportedly involved in similar cyber fraud cases in West Bengal,” he added.
Delhi Police bust cyber fraud syndicate using shell firms linked to Rs 180 crore complaints. (File Photos) 
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