Noida Ponzi scheme: Probe team recovers ₹52cr from Hyderabad company

The special task force, which is aiding the SIT in its probe, has already seized ₹524 crore that was deposited in the company’s accounts with various banks.

The special investigation team (SIT) on Friday seized ₹52 crore more from Anubhav Mittal, the managing director of Ablaze Info Solutions Private Limited , the company’s chief executive officer Shreedhar Prasad and technical head Mahesh Kumar.

Anubhav Mittal (second from left) was arrested on February 2. The task force has already recovered ₹524 crore. (Burhaan Kinu/HT)

The three stand accused of swindling ₹3,700 crore in an online trading scam from nearly seven lakh people.

The special task force, which is aiding the SIT in its probe, has already seized ₹524 crore that was deposited in the company’s accounts with various banks.

Officials said the ₹52 crore was kept in Paynear Solutions Private Limited in Hyderabad, a payment gateway through which the accused used to accept money from investors.

Ablaze Info Solutions Private Limited used to accept money from investors through bank transfers, cash and also via the payment gateway, said officials probing the scam.

SIT also brought the three accused to Ablaze’s Noida’s Sector 63 office in connection with the probe at 1pm on Friday. SIT quizzed the three till late night regarding the investments.

“SIT came across evidences that suggested that ₹52 crore is kept in Paynear Solutions Private Limited in Hyderabad. SIT immediately seized the money so that it is not siphoned off to any other account,” said Rajiv Narayan Mishra, additional superintendent of police, STF.

SIT team led by deputy inspector general (DIG) KS Emmanuel took three accused to their Noida office. Officials in the morning quizzed the three accused at the special task force (STF) office in Greater Noida’s Surajpur area before taking them to the Noida office.

“We have seized various CDs, documents and 73 central processing units (CPUs), among other evidence, from the company’s Noida office. We have taken possession of several files from Ablaze’s various departments, including human resources and accounts. We have seized all documents after conducting searches,” said an official who is part of the investigation.

All three accused are not cooperating with the SIT, officials said. Officials termed the role of Anubhav Mittal’s wife, who is director in the company, as ‘doubtful’.

“We are likely to question Mittal’s wife soon because her role is doubtful in various transactions,” the official said.

“The court can distribute the money among investors. In most cases, probing agencies do not find any money with the accused. As a result, the victims get nothing. But, in this case, since we have seized the money, investors have hopes of getting their money back,” said the official.

Officials said they are probing whether Mittal has stashed investors’ money somewhere. They are also probing whether he transferred money out of the country.

“As of now, we have found no evidence of money being send aboard. But we are probing each and every possible angle and gathering evidence for the same,” Mishra said.