A commercial dispute can become a personal criminal matter sooner than most people expect. An employment termination, a disagreement between shareholders or a contract that falls apart can end in allegations of cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust or conspiracy, with agencies such as the Economic Offences Wing involved. For executives, business owners and high-net-worth individuals, that shift puts a career, a reputation and financial security at risk. At RFKN, our white-collar crime practice advises clients across jurisdictions and regulatory frameworks. We act for individuals who do business globally and for whom the Indian criminal process and its agencies may be unfamiliar.
A Swiss medical manufacturer and its former distributors: A Swiss manufacturer of medical equipment found that its former Indian representatives had been forging documents, impersonating the company and selling warranty extensions they had no authority to sell. Senior consultants and their relatives had built a network of shell entities to divert funds. When the company approached the Economic Offences Wing, the matter was closed as a “civil dispute”, although the forgery and cheating were evident. We challenged the closure report and sought reopening of the investigation.
A French brand and counterfeiters: A French company found that its former distributor, whose contract had been terminated, was still manufacturing and selling counterfeit product. Some of it was expired, some was fungus-infested, and all of it carried fake FSSAI numbers and false QR codes. It was sold through online platforms and retail stores, and exposed consumers to a health risk. The police at first refused to register an FIR. We sought urgent injunctions and orders to inspect the premises.
A UK-backed energy company and its former CEO: The former CEO of a UK-backed sustainable energy company, together with the HR Manager, fabricated an employment contract to extort more than ₹2 crores. The contract required the company to bear the entire cost of arbitration and pre-deposit the employee’s whole claim as an “advance”. The HR Manager later admitted, in civil proceedings, that the document was fake.
We get involved early: A defence is best prepared before charges are filed. We help clients understand the legal position quickly, run internal investigations, secure evidence and open a dialogue with investigators. In some cases this prevents formal prosecution.
We handle the investigation end to end: These cases rarely involve one agency. Between the Economic Offences Wing, local police and various regulators, statutory notices and court proceedings need coordination. We manage the process and protect the client’s rights and interests throughout.
We prepare for trial: If prosecution cannot be avoided, we prepare petitions, responses and submissions, test the evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and pursue the remedies available, from revision petitions and appeals to constitutional challenges.
We work across borders: We coordinate with counsel in other jurisdictions and handle mutual legal assistance requests as they arise.
Corporate fraud and financial irregularities – accounting fraud, misappropriated funds, procurement fraud, securities violations, and the documentary evidence that accompanies them.
IP and brand protection – trademark infringement, trade secret theft, copyright violations, and criminal action against counterfeiters.
Employment-related offences – forged contracts, misappropriated assets and breach of fiduciary duty, representing both employers and employees.
Shareholder and governance disputes – minority oppression, director misconduct and forged corporate filings.
Cybercrime – unauthorised data access, forged electronic records, identity theft, and offences under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
We pair criminal defence experience with knowledge of commercial and regulatory law. This lets us address the immediate problem and the long-term interests of the client.