White Collar Crimes

White collar crimes refer to non-violent offences committed in commercial and professional settings, typically involving financial fraud, corporate misconduct, regulatory violations, and abuse of position or trust. These offences often intersect with corporate law, tax law, banking regulation, and digital forensics — making legal compliance and defence particularly nuanced.

In India, white collar offences are prosecuted under a variety of statutes, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Prevention of Corruption Act, Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and Companies Act, among others.

What Are White Collar Crimes?

White collar crimes in India typically include:

Corporate fraud and accounting manipulation
Banking and financial fraud
Insider trading and securities violations
Money laundering and benami transactions
Bribery and corruption
Forgery, identity theft, and cyber fraud
Tax evasion and GST fraud
Violation of FEMA and RBI regulations

These crimes are investigated by specialized agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), Income Tax Department, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and SEBI.

White Collar Crime Scenarios Commonly Handled

✅ Corporate Fraud Investigations

Misreporting of financial statements, embezzlement, and siphoning of funds often trigger SFIO or CBI investigations.

✅ Money Laundering and PMLA Proceedings

PMLA applies to proceeds of crime and associated transactions. Defence in attachment proceedings, search and seizure, and ED summons require a nuanced understanding of both substantive and procedural aspects.

✅ Cybercrime and Data Theft

IT-based fraud, data breaches, phishing scams, and identity theft are growing rapidly. These fall under the Information Technology Act, and in some cases, the IPC.

✅ Securities and Insider Trading Offences

SEBI regularly investigates insider trading, front-running, and other securities law violations under the SEBI Act and Prohibition of Insider Trading Regulations.