A special court in the national capital has taken a major step in a long running banking fraud case by declaring two senior executives of a rice export company as fugitives, allowing authorities to seize assets across countries.
On February 6, a special court in New Delhi declared Karan A. Chanana and Anita Daing, promoters of Amira Pure Foods Pvt. Ltd., as fugitive economic offenders under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2018. The order was passed by special judge Rajesh Malik on a plea moved by the Enforcement Directorate. The ruling enables Indian authorities to confiscate their properties in India as well as overseas. The court also directed the confiscation of assets worth ₹123 crore linked to the two individuals.
Investigators allege that Amira Pure Foods and its promoters cheated a consortium of banks led by Canara Bank of nearly ₹1,200 crore. Mr. Chanana, the company’s chairman, and Ms. Daing, its whole time director, are accused of cheating, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds. As per court records, the total loss assessed in the case stands at ₹1,201.85 crore. The company, once a known name in the basmati rice export business, came under scrutiny after loan accounts turned irregular and lenders flagged suspected diversion of funds.
Court documents state that both accused are currently outside India. Mr. Chanana is believed to be in the United Kingdom, while Ms. Daing is reportedly in Dubai. The court noted that repeated attempts to serve legal notices failed. In its order, the court observed, “Both the respondents, being abroad, have refused to return to India to face criminal prosecution,” adding that their absence appeared aimed at avoiding judicial proceedings. Under Section 10 of the Act, this was sufficient to declare them fugitives.
The Enforcement Directorate case stems from a 2020 FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which later led to a money laundering probe in 2022. While the fugitive declaration allows asset seizure, the criminal and money laundering cases against the accused will continue as agencies pursue recovery of public funds.
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