The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Shillong Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached assets valued at ₹17.91 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a large-scale online investment fraud involving “Pearlvine International”.
According to the agency, the attached assets comprise 13 immovable properties and seven movable assets, including several luxury vehicles allegedly purchased using proceeds of crime. The attachment order was issued on December 10, 2025.
Scam operated under the guise of foreign investment firm
The investigation stems from an FIR registered by the CID, Meghalaya Police, based on a complaint from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shillong. The case involves a fraudulent entity operating under the name “Pearlvine International”, which ran the website www.pearlvine.com claiming to be a U.S.-based company.
Between 2018 and March 2023, Pearlvine International lured investors across India with attractive online investment schemes, requiring a minimum membership fee of ₹2,250. The company conducted seminars nationwide and abroad, promising lucrative returns to members.
At its peak in 2022, the organisation claimed to have over 80 lakh members in India and overseas.
₹1,575 crore collected; ₹395 crore unpaid to investors
The ED’s probe revealed that Pearlvine International collected at least ₹1,575 crore from investors through its fraudulent schemes. Out of this, a minimum of ₹395.35 crore remains unreturned to investors, constituting the primary proceeds of crime under the PMLA.
The scheme operated on the Ponzi model, where returns to older investors were paid using funds collected from new members. The agency stated that the company’s “investment” structure had no genuine revenue-generating activity, making it unsustainable and illegal.
Neeraj Kumar Gupta identified as key operator
Investigators identified Neeraj Kumar Gupta as the mastermind behind the entire operation. Gupta allegedly purchased the domain www.pearlvine.com in November 2015, long before the scheme’s public launch.
He reportedly organised multiple seminars and promotional events in India and abroad, including in Thailand, to attract new participants to the scheme. The ED has described Gupta as the “principal operator” responsible for orchestrating the fraudulent activities of Pearlvine International.
Total attachment rises to ₹54.98 crore
With the latest seizure, the total value of attached assets in the case now stands at ₹54.98 crore, which includes a previous attachment of ₹37.07 crore made during earlier stages of the investigation.
The attached assets include land parcels, residential properties, bank balances, and high-end vehicles acquired through illicit gains generated by the scheme.
Further investigation continues
The ED stated that further investigation is underway to trace additional proceeds of crime, identify other individuals involved in the Ponzi network, and determine possible foreign links of the fraudulent operation.
The agency’s findings highlight the scale of online financial frauds exploiting digital investment platforms and underscore the need for heightened investor vigilance and stricter regulatory monitoring of unregistered financial entities.
