Editor’s Note
This article details the unfolding investigation into an international scam mastermind, revealing that a suspect initially considered a minor fraudster is now alleged to have orchestrated a multi-billion rupee scheme affecting hundreds globally.
The raw details of Ravindra Nath Soni, a sharp international conman jailed two months ago in a 42 lakh scam from Kanpur, have left the police stunned. The man, considered a minor fraudster and sent to jail on November 30, turned out to be an international scammer.
Kanpur police investigation revealed that the mastermind had executed a scam worth over 1500 crore rupees from around 700 people worldwide. People from different countries are continuously approaching the Kanpur police. On Monday, three people from Dubai reached the Police Commissioner to file a complaint.
The Police Commissioner registered an FIR for fraud late at night based on the applications of two people. To understand the business model of the scam, Dainik Bhaskar spoke with Vishal Nitin Kondiya, a diamond trader from Dubai who fell victim to the fraud. He explained how this person cheated people, what the mastermind’s business model was, how he won trust by showing actors’ faces, and targeted people of Indian origin living abroad. This mastermind has surpassed even Charles Sobhraj and Natwarlal.
Vishal Nitin Kondiya, originally a Mumbai resident and currently living in Dubai, explained: The cunning fraudster had set up several companies in Dubai, including Bluechip. For promoting his companies, he claimed that film actor Sonu Sood and wrestler Khali were not just promoters but also investors in the company.
Vishal Nitin revealed that the mastermind cheated investors not only from Dubai but also from many countries including the USA, Australia, Nepal, and Japan.
During the conversation, Vishal Nitin made a shocking revelation: According to Dubai’s Immigration Department, the fraudster Ravindra Nath Soni is still hiding in Dubai, while he is lodged in Kanpur jail. One person cannot be in two places at once. He has also fled from Dubai secretly. He came to India via illegal routes.
Vishal said: He has cheated about 1200 to 1500 crore rupees. After the company fled, the victim investors investigated and found out that he used to work in a bank in Dubai. He set up his company and got billions of rupees invested from people. Then he fled with the entire amount. He has converted all his money into crypto and fled from there. Where did such a huge amount go? We people are also unable to understand. Vishal Nitin said that this mastermind is a bigger fraudster than Charles Sobhraj and Natwarlal.
Vishal Nitin explained: The mastermind used to do a small job in a bank in Dubai. Because of this, he knew very well how to launder billions of rupees of investors. It was from here that he learned the work of finance. Being knowledgeable about finance, mastermind Ravindra first created one, then several companies, and fled after taking billions of rupees from people.
Vishal Nitin said: People like film actor Sonu Sood and wrestler Khali were promoting his company. The mastermind used to hold company meetings in big five-star hotels in Dubai. There were advertisements of this company from Burj Khalifa to many places.
Nitin said that the mastermind was knowledgeable about finance, but where did he go after taking billions of rupees, no one has been able to find out till date. The investigation so far has only revealed that he converted the billions of rupees from the scam into crypto and fled. Along with this, a huge amount has been brought to India through hawala. Till today, even the police have not been able to find out where such a huge amount has gone.
Abdul Karim, a resident of Nawab Ibrahim’s Hata in Kanpur Parade, had filed an FIR on January 5, 2025, for a scam of 42.29 lakh rupees. Kotwali police had announced a reward of 10 thousand rupees. Ravindra Nath Soni had lured Abdul Karim’s son with an investment scheme in Dubai, after which, on his son’s advice, he deposited the amount in the Bluechip company.
Ravindra Nath Soni had given a check and absconded. Later, they came to know about the fraud. The police of Kotwali station had arrested him from Dehradun on November 30 and sent him to jail. After going to jail, lines of complaints queued up at the Commissionerate police. Apart from people of Indian origin in Dubai, people from other countries have sent more than 300 complaints against Ravindra Nath Soni via email, which the police are investigating.
1.) Diamond Trader Vishal had sold his Mumbai house to make an investment of 1 crore.
Diamond trader Vishal Nitin Kondiya filed an FIR against Ravindra Nath Soni for fraud at Kanpur Kotwali on Saturday.
Diamond trader Vishal Nitin said that he is originally a resident of Gujarati Society, Nehru Road, Ville Parle (East), Mumbai. But, currently, he lives with his mother Chetana Nitin Kondiya at Flat No-6, New Aster Pharmacy Building, Main Street, Allen, UAEI. Nitin said that Ravindra Nath Soni and his three-four associates met me in Dubai and said that I am also from India.
