New Delhi – December 19, 2023 A bailable warrant has been authorized by the Session Court of Saket, New Delhi, against Dr. Shruti Arora, the daughter-in-law of Ajay Khera, former executive director, Central Warehouse Corporation, in connection with a complex ₹400 crore money fraud case.
This intricate financial deception commenced with Ajay Khera, a legal advisor and former executive director of the state-owned CWC. He was apprehended last year for masterminding a fraudulent scheme against Seagull Maritime Agencies Private Limited, a prominent freight forwarding entity. Despite Ajay Khera securing bail from the Delhi High Court, the case’s complexities were underscored.
The Khera family, headed by Ajay Khera, purportedly exploited his close ties with Seagull’s former promoter to gain illicit access to confidential data, leading to an astounding loss of over ₹400 crore for Seagull. Expressing disappointment over the breach of trust, Seagull Maritime Agencies Private Limited condemned the family’s actions. Legal counsel for Seagull highlighted the establishment of Azure, an Indian and US-based company, as a vehicle for their illicit operations.
Prompt action was taken by Seagull, resulting in the Delhi Police’s Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) arresting Ajay Khera in September 2022. However, Siddharth Khera, Ajay Khera’s son and a key figure in transferring ₹25 crore siphoned from Seagull’s accounts to his father and brother via hawala, remains a fugitive wanted by Indian authorities.
The involvement of individuals like Charu Khera, Shruti Arora, Hira Malhotra, and others in the scam, with one suspect fleeing to Canada, highlights the expansive nature of the Khera family’s criminal enterprise.
Ajay Khera, post his retirement from CWC, joined World Window India Impex Private Limited, a group company of Seagull Maritime Agencies Private Limited. Accusations surfaced suggesting that he recommended his son, Siddharth Khera, for a position at Seagull’s USA branch, marking the genesis of the fraudulent scheme.
Investigations revealed that Ajay Khera and his son established two companies, Azure Freight & Logistics LLP and Azure International LLC, misrepresenting themselves and diverting Seagull’s clientele through forgery. Consequently, Seagull’s annual revenue plummeted from 2018 to its nadir in 2021.
Further probing disclosed that Siddharth Khera, the accused’s son, held the position of director at Azure International LLC and had been employed by Seagull until June 30, 2021. Prosecution alleged the active involvement of former and current employees of Azure in the conspiracy, even post their resignation from Seagull, utilizing the company’s IDs.