Image Credit: Wikimedia
New Delhi— Angad Singh Chandok, a 34-year-old California resident and convicted fraudster, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on May 23, 2025, following his deportation from the United States.
Chandok had been convicted in the U.S. for orchestrating a large-scale money laundering scheme targeting elderly Americans and was also wanted in India for a 2014 bank fraud case.
Key Facts:
-
Chandok was sentenced to six years in U.S. federal prison in March 2022 after pleading guilty to laundering over $1.5 million.
-
He was declared an absconder in India for a 2014 Union Bank of India fraud case involving criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery.
-
An Interpol Red Notice was issued against him in 2017, and he fled India with his family in 2016 to evade legal proceedings.
Chandok's fraudulent activities involved using shell companies and collaborating with Indian students on U.S. visas to transfer stolen funds from victims in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to accounts under his control. In one month alone, he laundered $930,000.
Despite seeking asylum in the U.S., his bid failed, leading to his deportation after coordinated efforts by the CBI, U.S. Department of Justice, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Upon arrival in India, Chandok was immediately taken into custody and remanded to judicial custody.
Authorities are continuing efforts to secure the return of his family members, who are also accused in the Indian bank fraud case.
A CBI spokesperson stated, "His arrest and deportation are major achievements in dismantling global fraud networks."
This case underscores the growing cooperation between international law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational financial crimes.
For the Indian diaspora, particularly those in the U.S., it serves as a reminder of the long reach of justice and the importance of maintaining integrity in financial dealings.
Do You Know?
The use of shell companies and unwitting participants, such as students on visas, is a common tactic in international money laundering schemes, making detection and prosecution challenging for authorities.
Key Terms:
-
Money Laundering: The process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses.
-
Shell Company: A business entity without active business operations or significant assets, often used for illegal purposes such as tax evasion or money laundering.
-
Interpol Red Notice: A request to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition, issued by Interpol at the request of a member country.
-
Absconder: A person who evades arrest or legal proceedings by fleeing from the jurisdiction of the court.