BharatPe Fraud Unravels: Ex-Managing Director Ashneer Grover and Wife Madhuri Jain Intercepted at Delhi Airport Amid Allegations; Economic Offences Wing Issues Lookout Circular
In a dramatic turn of events, Ashneer Grover, former managing director of BharatPe, and his wife Madhuri Jain, were reportedly halted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday evening as they attempted to travel to New York. Sources reveal that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police detained the couple, citing an issued lookout circular earlier this week in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud at BharatPe.
Joint Commissioner of Police (EOW) Sindhu Pillai confirmed the couple’s travel plans, stating, “They were detained before security check and asked to return to their Delhi residence and join the probe at the EOW office at Mandir Marg next week.” Pillai clarified that the lookout circular was solely to prevent the couple from leaving the country, emphasizing that they have not been arrested at this point.
Earlier this week, Mint reported findings from an EOW investigation indicating that recruitment firms associated with Ashneer Grover and his family exploited backdated invoices to divert funds without providing services to BharatPe. The probe also revealed difficulties in tracing several recipient firms of BharatPe’s vendor payments. In December 2022, BharatPe filed a criminal complaint, alleging an ₹81.28 crore fraud against Grover, his wife, and her family members, including claims of dubious payments to HR consultants.
As the saga unfolds, authorities intensify their scrutiny into the financial affairs of the once-prominent fintech unicorn.
Source : https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/bharatpe-fraud-ashneer-grover-madhuri-jain-stopped-at-delhi-airport-11700210014613.html
Edited : Sakshi Semwal