Wanted in Dubai, traced to Dehradun – how a food delivery order led police to absconding BlueChip Group founder’s doorstep

Soni was produced at the local court and sent to judicial custody. His bail plea was dismissed.

Vishwakarma said that they had been “surveilling” Soni for a long time and traced him to Dehradun. “He was smart and remained elusive, but we tracked his location through his phone and found that he had given his address for a food delivery app. When he stepped out, our team nabbed him,” she said.

The officer said that he allegedly committed multiple frauds and was arrested in 2017 by the Aligarh Police. “We are focusing on the extent of cases and getting as many FIRs registered as possible. We have found that he has accomplices in India. We have traced and frozen Rs 80 lakh from multiple accounts. He had three companies in India, while the BlueChip Group had 12 subsidiary companies wherein he served as the director,” she said. UAE-based Khaleej Times reported that his firm had procured investments totalling over $17 million from just 90 individuals.

The complaint registered against him in Kanpur by Delhi resident Abdul Karim states that a sales executive of Bluechip Group of Companies contacted Karim’s son and informed him about several investment schemes of the company. In 2021, the sales executive also told him that the company was operating in India, and many investment schemes were available, under which the invested amount could double within 36 to 46 months. “During this time, the owner of the company, Ravindra Nath Soni, also met my son and explained his investment schemes for India. At his instruction, my son Talha invested Rs 9 lakh,” the complaint said.

In 2022, Soni informed them of some new attractive schemes and asked them to invest again. The complainant arranged funds from various sources and, once more, through his son Talha Karim, transferred around Rs 32 lakh. Whenever the family tried to inquire about the investment, Soni would make excuses and reassure them that the invested money was completely safe, the complaint states.

The complaint stated that a few months ago, when Talha tried to contact Soni and his company representatives, he was unable to reach anyone. “After continuous efforts, it was discovered that the company’s website and online contact details had been shut down. Attempts were also made to contact Soni and his wife on their mobile numbers, but no contact could be established,” the complaint read, seeking action for allegedly deceiving them through false promises of investment in India.