Jessop-Dunlop owner Pawan Ruia arrested in 317 crore rupees fraud case

Industrialist Pawan Ruia, owner of Jessop and Dunlop, was arrested on Tuesday by the Cyber Crime Wing in connection with a ₹317 crore fraud case. He was picked up from Eco Park in Kolkata as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged large-scale financial irregularities linked to cyber fraud.

Ruia’s name had earlier surfaced in a multi-crore fraud case, where both he and members of his family were accused. Following the registration of an FIR, he had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail, which was granted with conditions. The state had opposed his plea, questioning his industrial contributions and alleging that assets of acquired companies like Jessop and Dunlop were being dismantled and sold.

The defence, however, maintained that Ruia’s family has longstanding business roots in the state and that all operations were conducted legally. The latest arrest adds to his legal troubles, with past allegations also surfacing, including a 2016 case where he was arrested by the CID over the alleged theft of machinery from Jessop factories. That case involved concerns raised by the Railways regarding missing materials supplied to the company, following which inspections and a formal investigation were initiated.