Key accused in ₹3,558 crore 'cloud particle scam' arrested
What's the story
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested the alleged masterminds of the ₹3,558 crore "cloud particle scam," Sukhvinder Singh Kharour and Dimple Kharour.
They were detained at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport as they were trying to flee India.
The authorities acted on specific intelligence and an active Look Out Circular (LoC) to apprehend them.
Scam details
Investigation reveals fraudulent business model
The ED's investigation was launched after the Gautam Budh Nagar Police in Uttar Pradesh filed an FIR.
The probe found that Sukhvinder, CEO and founder of Vuenow Group, allegedly masterminded the fraud through a fraudulent "sale and lease-back" (SLB) model.
This so-called cloud particle technology business attracted investors with high return promises but was mostly non-existent.
Fund diversion
Misappropriation of investor funds for personal gain
Officials allege that investor money was diverted into personal accounts and shell companies.
The money was reportedly used for luxury purchases and paid out as hefty commissions to channel partners.
The ED traced links between diverted funds and entities linked to Dimple, such as Kharour Films LLP, Fruitchaat Entertainment Pvt Ltd, and Avnii T Infra Ventures Ltd—companies that had no real connection with the fraud.
Asset seizure
ED seizes assets, detains another accused
Earlier, the ED had searched premises linked to Vuenow Marketing Services Ltd. and seized assets worth ₹178.12 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The latest arrests come after the custody of another accused, Arif Nisar, on February 24.
A Jalandhar court has sent Sukhvinder and Dimple to ED custody for further investigation as officials trace the full extent of the scam and recover misappropriated funds.