Industrialist Pawan Ruia, along with his son and daughter, was interrogated for more than eight hours in Kolkata on Monday, January 5, by the West Bengal Police Cyber Crime Wing in connection with an alleged
cyber fraud case. Ruia and his family were questioned by senior officials of the cyber wing at the Cyber Crime Office.
The questioning came days after the High Court granted anticipatory bail to Pawan Ruia and two members of his family in a case alleging that proceeds from multiple online scams across the country were routed through their bank accounts.
Pawan Ruia’s counsel had submitted before the Court that the arrest warrant issued on December 22, 2025, under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was unlawful and in violation of earlier judicial protection. It was contended that the BNSS mandates a balance between the requirements of investigation and the protection of personal liberty, 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 presently pending before a Coordinate Bench of the Court. In view of these submissions, the Court had granted anticipatory bail to Ruia.
Sources in the West Bengal Police Cyber Crime Wing have told News18 that investigators believe custodial interrogation of Pawan Ruia and his children is necessary and expressed disappointment within the police fraternity over the High Court’s decision to grant anticipatory bail. According to police sources, the case involves large-scale cyber fraud in which substantial sums were siphoned through mule bank accounts, with cryptocurrency also allegedly used to launder funds.
Police sources said the Cyber Crime Wing has strong reasons to believe the offence is of an “unprecedented magnitude”, involving a complex network of at least 186 companies and shell entities. The state has maintained that custodial interrogation is vital to “unmask the conspiracy” and to carry out the “technical decryption” of decentralised payment systems and crypto wallets, for which the physical custody of the accused is considered necessary.
Although Pawan Ruia and his son and daughter have secured anticipatory bail, the West Bengal Police Cyber Crime Wing is examining available legal options, maintaining that custodial interrogation is essential to the investigation.
Case Against Pawan Ruia and Family
The cybercrime wing of the West Bengal Police has registered an FIR against Pawan Ruia and some of his family members over their alleged links to cybercrime. The case was initiated suo motu following a police probe into multiple cyber fraud cases in which proceeds amounting to Rs 315 crore were allegedly traced to bank accounts of shell companies and individuals connected to the Ruia family, police sources said.
According to data from the National Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), as of October 31, 2025, a total of 1,379 complaints had been registered against the bank accounts of these shell companies. Police said more than 100 of these complaints were from West Bengal.
A Delhi resident currently in the custody of the West Bengal Police has emerged as a key figure in the Rs 315-crore cyber fraud case. Police identified him as Rahul Verma, 27, and said he was “very close” to the Ruia family and played a “crucial role” in the alleged money-laundering operation. Investigators allege that around Rs 170 crore was converted into cryptocurrency.
Police have described the case as a massive cyber fraud and money-laundering racket in which more than 1,000 people across India were allegedly duped through fake investment platforms, so-called “digital arrest” scams, and other forms of online financial fraud. According to investigators, the cyber fraud network, active since 2024, was a highly organised and technologically sophisticated syndicate with links across multiple states and digital platforms.
