A Dubai-based fugitive accused of orchestrating a ₹1,500-crore international fraud was arrested in Dehradun after he unknowingly revealed his location by activating a food-delivery app. Ravindranath Soni, wanted for duping more than 700 victims across several countries, was tracked down when he logged into the app using his name and shared location from a relative’s mobile phone.
Location Exposed Through Food-Delivery App
Investigators said Soni, who had fled from Dubai and was staying in a Dehradun hotel, used a relative’s phone to order tawa roti, vegetables and pizza after disliking the hotel meal. He downloaded a food-delivery application and entered his personal details to place the order. The Crime Branch and surveillance teams, already positioned in and around Dehradun, immediately detected the location update and moved in to detain him.
Arrest Linked to Ongoing Fraud Probe
Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said the Crime Branch and Kotwali police were searching for Soni in connection with a ₹42.29-lakh cheating case when the breakthrough occurred. The accused had deliberately stopped using his own mobile number, prompting investigators to place phones belonging to his relatives under surveillance. Once his location was confirmed, the team arrested him from the hotel and later sent him to jail following court orders.
Fraud Network Spanned Multiple Countries
According to police, Soni is accused of defrauding more than 700 individuals across India, Dubai, Sharjah, Oman, the United States and other countries, with the total cheating amount estimated at around ₹1,500 crore. He had been on the run after leaving Dubai and was believed to have frequently shifted locations within India to evade arrest.
Ten-Member SIT Formed for Full Investigation
To examine the scale of the fraud and trace all linked assets, a ten-member Special Investigation Team has been constituted under ADCP Crime Anjali Vishwakarma. On Monday, Kotwali police handed over all case documents to the SIT, which has begun its investigation. Officials said several properties in Delhi, Noida, Meerut, Gurugram and other NCR areas have been traced to Soni, many of them purchased in the names of his relatives. Teams are verifying ownership records and gathering further evidence.
