How conman tricked Yogi Adityanath’s UP government with fake Data Centre scam
In what is now being described as one of the biggest multi-level marketing frauds in recent years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Sukhvinder Singh Kharour, the CEO of Vuenow Group, and his wife, Dimple Kharour, for orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme under the guise of cloud technology. The couple defrauded investors of ₹3,558 crore by selling what they called “cloud particles” and luring people into a scheme that promised high rental returns.
However, the scandal does not end at financial fraud. In a stunning revelation, it has come to light that the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the conman’s company, advertising it as a grand project that would build the "biggest data centre network in the world." What was projected as a revolutionary tech investment for Uttar Pradesh turned out to be an elaborate scam, with thousands of crores siphoned off by the fraudsters.
On November 20, 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government, in the presence of then Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, signed an MoU with Vuenow Marketing Services Ltd (VMSL) to establish 750 edge data centres across all districts of the state. The project was widely promoted as a groundbreaking initiative that would position UP as a global leader in digital infrastructure, aiding advancements in 5G, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics. The state government proudly announced that it was building the world’s largest data centre network, a claim that now stands completely discredited.
However, what was marketed as a high-tech initiative was, in reality, a front for an elaborate Ponzi scheme. Sukhvinder Singh Kharour had no real expertise in data centres or cloud storage. Instead, he and his associates manipulated investors by selling them non-existent "cloud particles" (essentially server storage space) and promised lucrative returns through a sale-and-lease-back model. Investors were told that these "cloud particles" would be leased to major tech firms and generate high rental incomes.
The entire scheme began to unravel when complaints started pouring in from investors who were not receiving their promised returns. The ED launched a probe into Vuenow in October 2024, suspecting money laundering activities. Investigations revealed that instead of investing the money in data centres, the fraudsters were using new investors’ money to pay off older investors, a classic hallmark of a Ponzi scheme. The company was also found to have been laundering funds through a network of shell companies.
On November 24, 2024, an FIR was filed at Sector-58 police station in Noida against Vuenow and its associated entities. ED officials then conducted searches at Vuenow’s premises in Sector-62, where the company operated from the eighth floor of IThum Tower. These raids revealed a shocking paper trail showing that despite the grand MoU with the UP government, no real infrastructure had ever been built.
As the investigation progressed, authorities issued lookout notices against Sukhvinder and Dimple, but the duo managed to escape. They went underground, reportedly taking refuge in Nepal to evade arrest. After months of tracking, intelligence agencies located them and forced them to return to India. The couple was arrested on February 28, 2025, at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport as they attempted to flee once again.
During the investigation, the ED seized assets worth hundreds of crores linked to the scam. In February, the agency attached ₹178.12 crore in properties in Punjab and confiscated 26 luxury vehicles, valued at over ₹80 crore, all purchased using money looted from investors.
Further scrutiny of Vuenow’s financial records revealed the staggering scale of the deception. The company had only 2,701 terabytes (TB) of actual storage capacity but had sold over 6.7 lakh cloud particles, vastly overstating its assets to lure investors. The fraudsters had also transferred huge sums abroad, instead of using them to build data centres.
The Yogi Adityanath government now finds itself in an embarrassing position. The much-touted MoU, which was supposed to be a game-changer for UP's digital infrastructure, has been exposed as a sham. The promise of a ₹13,500 crore investment in data centres was nothing more than a PR stunt that masked a massive financial fraud. The fact that the UP government publicly endorsed Vuenow without conducting due diligence raises serious questions about the state’s vetting process for investment projects.
The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Jalandhar has remanded Dimple Kharour to five days of custody and Sukhvinder to ten days.
Authorities revealed that Vuenow and its subsidiaries, Zebyte Infotech Private Limited and Zebyte Rental Planet Private Limited, were involved in rotating investors’ money instead of generating actual revenue. As per officials, “The cloud sale and lease-back model was found to be non-existent, and proceeds of crime amounting to ₹3,558 crore were used for personal luxuries instead of business purposes.”
The investigation has also revealed that the fraud extended beyond Vuenow, with money being funneled into production companies controlled by Dimple Kharour, such as Avni IT Infra Ventures Ltd, Kharour Films LLP, and Fruitchaat Entertainment Pvt Ltd. None of these businesses had any connection to cloud computing, further proving that the entire enterprise was a front for siphoning money.
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SRH knocked out of play-off race after washout against DC
Hyderabad, May 5 (PTI): Sunrisers Hyderabad were eliminated from the play-offs race after their Indian Premier League fixture against Delhi Capitals was called off due to heavy rain following the first innings here on Monday.
Pat Cummins-led SRH pace attack ran through the DC batting line-up to limit the visitors to 133/7 before rain dashed the slim hopes of the home team. Both teams shared a point each for the abandoned game.
With 13 points from 11 games, DC remain in contention for a top-four spot.
After reaching the final last year, it was a season to forget for SRH who could not replicate their ballistic run of 2024 with the bat. Having collected only seven points from 11 matches, SRH will now be playing for pride.
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were already eliminated from the competition.
Before rain lashed the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, the hosts put up a clinical effort with the ball and were on course for only their fourth win of the season until rain arrived, creating large puddles of water on the outfield. The match officials decided to call off the game at 11.10 pm local time.
The shot selection of Delhi Capitals' batters contributed to their downfall after being put in to bat.
They were left reeling at 29 for five in 7.1 overs with captain Cummins causing the maximum damage.
Cummins had Karun Nair caught behind on the very first ball of the match with a good length ball around the off-stump. It was a rather loose shot from the DC batter first up.
Faf du Plessis departed in Cummins' following over, a failed attempt to put the relentless Australian away for a boundary. Not getting any loose ball from Cummins, the South Africa went for a pull on the charge only to be caught by the wicket-keeper.
Cummins' third victim was Abhishek Porel who was caught after mistiming a flick.
Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat then got into the act by dismissing Axar Patel and K L Rahul respectively. The in-form Rahul went for a drive on the up but ended up edging it to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps.
It was one way traffic until Tristian Stubbs (41 not out off 36) and impact player Ashutosh Sharma (41 off 26) combined to take DC to a respectable total. They shared a 66-run stand off 45 balls.
Sharma was able to break the shackles by depositing leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari for a couple of sixes over long-on in the 15th over.
Stubbs did not look as comfortable as Sharma in the middle but managed to provide much needed support to the latter. The South African could find only four boundaries with the last one coming off the final ball of the innings.
🚨 News 🚨
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2025
Match 55 between @SunRisers and @DelhiCapitals has been called off due to wet outfield.
Both teams share a point each.
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/1MkIwk4VNE
#TATAIPL | #SRHvDC pic.twitter.com/VnVZWjsjGJ
