White Collar Crimes

Maheshwari & Co. is recognized as a leading white collar crime law firm in India, offering comprehensive legal services across the full spectrum of financial and corporate offences.

As prominent white collar crime lawyers in India, we advise on matters related to offences including bank fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, cybercrime, bribery, tax evasion, and insider trading under Indian penal and regulatory laws.

We assist clients during ED, CBI, SFIO, and SEBI investigations, help with court representation in white collar criminal litigation and enforcement actions across India.

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Services Offered

Enforcement Directorate (ED) Representation

The Enforcement Directorate investigates offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and FEMA. We assist clients with responding to ED summons, protecting assets from provisional attachment, and contesting adjudication proceedings before the PMLA Authority and Appellate Tribunal.

PMLA Compliance and Legal Advisory

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act imposes strict compliance requirements on reporting entities and individuals. We advise clients on obligations relating to identity verification, transaction reporting, and internal control systems. We also defend clients in proceedings involving alleged proceeds of crime.

SFIO Investigation Defence

The Serious Fraud Investigation Office is a specialized agency under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs tasked with probing serious financial frauds. We represent companies, directors, and auditors in SFIO investigations, including document review, legal representation, challenge evidence and settlements.

CBI Investigation and Defence Strategy

We represent clients in investigations initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in cases involving corruption, breach of trust, forgery, bribery, and criminal conspiracy. Our services include pre-FIR advisory, response to summons, bail applications, and defence during charge sheet and trial stages. We focus on ensuring procedural safeguards are upheld, and coordinate responses where CBI investigations intersect with ED, SFIO, or SEBI proceedings.

Income Tax and Black Money Prosecution Defence

The Income Tax Department and the Black Money Act provide for prosecution in cases involving evasion, concealment of foreign assets, and benami transactions. We assist in responding to notices, handling reassessment proceedings, and defending criminal complaints before special courts and tribunals.

Internal Investigations and Corporate Fraud Assessment

We conduct confidential internal investigations into allegations of financial misconduct, accounting irregularities, and diversion of funds. Our team assists in identifying fraud patterns, coordinating forensic reviews, and advising on reporting obligations under the Companies Act and SEBI regulations.

Regulatory Compliance and Preventive Advisory

We advise on implementing preventive compliance systems covering anti-bribery laws, anti-money laundering obligations, insider trading policies, and director duties. Our focus is on reducing regulatory exposure through tailored compliance frameworks and internal policy support.

Representation in Multi-Agency Investigations

We represent clients facing investigations by regulatory and enforcement bodies such as the ED, SFIO, CBI, SEBI, and the Income Tax Department. We manage summons, document production, search and seizure procedures, and overlapping inquiries across multiple forums.

Defence in Prosecution and Criminal Trials

We provide strategic defence in prosecutions arising from white collar offences including fraud, cheating, money laundering, and breach of trust. Our services include pre-charge legal strategy, bail applications, trial advocacy, and appellate representation.

Whistleblower and Witness Protection Advisory

We offer legal support to whistleblowers and witnesses involved in regulatory and internal investigations. Our services include protection planning, guidance on disclosures, and navigating cooperation with agencies such as SEBI, ED, and SFIO.

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Why Choose Us?

Legal Support Across Enforcement Agencies

We assist clients in investigations and proceedings before ED, CBI, SFIO, SEBI, and other Indian authorities. From bail to trial, we provide end-to-end legal defence in white collar crime cases and economic offence litigation.

Decades of Trusted Legal Experience in Economic Offences

For more than two decades, our lawyers have worked closely with clients facing allegations of corporate fraud, money laundering, and other economic offences.

Strategic Support in Internal and Cross-Border Investigations

We assist clients in internal investigations, especially where Indian and international laws overlap. We review transactions, address board-level concerns, and coordinate with global counsel in matters involving the FCPA, UK Bribery Act, and corporate misconduct.

Work Highlights

Defended a Promoter Group in a Multi-Crore Financial Misstatement Probe

MAHESHWARI & CO. represented the promoter group of a listed entity during regulatory investigations for alleged misstatement of financials and manipulation of earnings. The firm coordinated a robust legal strategy addressing parallel inquiries under the Companies Act and SEBI regulations. The team provided strategic advice to mitigate criminal exposure and helped the client navigate through forensic reviews and compliance restructuring.

Assisted Company Directors in a Bank Fraud Investigation

MAHESHWARI & CO. represented the directors of a mid-sized manufacturing company accused of diverting loan funds and defaulting on repayments. The case involved a CBI and bank-led investigation under allegations of criminal breach of trust and forgery. Our team reviewed financial documents, coordinated with forensic auditors, and helped the clients respond to multiple notices from authorities. We also advised on preventive legal steps to avoid arrest and protected the clients’ interests during the early stages of inquiry.

MAHESHWARI & CO. Manages Arbitration and IPR for Major Indian Oil Firm

MAHESHWARI & CO. Successfully aided one of India's largest crude oil and natural gas companies, primarily engaged in the production of petroleum products such as Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, Naphtha, and Cooking Gas LPG, The firm played a pivotal role in handling arbitration and intellectual property rights (IPR) matters for this prominent entity.

Testimonials Of Clients

I Thanks a lot Mr. Ketan Joshi and Team for expediting the process and delivering us the legal opinion. We are indeed grateful. The legal opinion has helped us immensely.
I’ll refer people to you if I come across anyone seeking legal help/opinions.

Siddharth Shah

Partnerships Manager (Grid Master)

I personally joined the scheduled last hearing and was thoroughly impressed by the exceptional presentation delivered by the assigned team. I wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

Gurpreet Singh

National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited

Instituto Cervantes-Embassy of Spain has received consultation services from Maheshwari & Co and we are really happy with the outcome. This law firm is really professional and understands the needs of their client. They work was done respecting what was agreed and adapting to changes that the client requests. With them the work was done on time and a high quality standards were followed.

Alejandro Palma Allepuz

Administrator, Instituto Cervantes New Delhi

Jyotsna provided my company with outstanding legal assistance. Her work was thoughtful, timely and complete. Her advice is pragmatic and she is able to quickly understand and help resolve issues faced by foreign entities seeking to do business in India. I would highly recommend her – most particularly in connection with merger and acquisition legal services.

Debbie Rosen

Vice President/CLO at Standex International

Maheshwari& Co has been providing legal and end-to-end support for our business objectives and has been successfully representing our interests in issues pertaining to various documentations and negotiations involved in our project.

A leading Automobile company in the US

The Firm has the right balance of kindness, calmness and professionalism. I think this is the reason we have never opted for any other law firm’s services. The effective and pragmatic solutions offered have been the backbone of our business’s success.

A leading Pharmaceuticals company in the US

The Firm believes in effective partnership and collaboration. We really appreciate their approach wherein they proved to become our trusted advisor and worked as our extension in India using their expertise to deliver first-rate legal and business advice.

A leading E-commerce company in the US

The team’s tremendous efforts and vast knowledge has helped us achieve incredible momentum when we were setting up our business in India whilst ensuring we procured critical licenses and registrations within set timelines. They have the right combination of empathy and professionalism that has helped us resolve complex matters with ease.

A leading Information Technology company in the US

The dedication with which Maheshwari& Co handled our transaction relating to India’s Entry strategy was something never seen before. No overlapping, tremendous approach and communications through proper channels, had the matters flow in a smooth way and with success. Since then there has been no looking back. Easily, we can say that it is “One firm for all the legal issues”.

A leading Food & Beverage company in US

The team at Maheshwari& Co with its immense knowledge and innovative approach has handled various legal issues not only with respect to Intellectual Property but have also assisted us in setting up including obtaining licenses and registrations necessary for operations, documentations, infrastructure, and various other Pharma sector-specific support. The professional approach and sector-specific knowledge combined with understanding the needs of the clients is commendable.

A leading Healthcare company in the US

Maheshwari & Co. (‘M&Co.’) managed the deliverables upto our expectations. Every legal issue that arose was looked after by the Team MC with great thoroughness and commitment.

Team M&Co. is prompt, efficient, and professional and they are not only assisted us at every step of the way but also kept us informed regarding even the smallest of details. Advice of MC is based on practicability, which led them to come up with creative and effective solutions for our matter.

Honesty and integrity of M&Co. & its Team towards their clients are commendable. They are energetic, compassionate, and committed. It was a rewarding experience to work with such an enthusiastic team!

Largest manufacturer of ceramic/vitrified tiles in India

I wish to take this opportunity to commend the team from Maheshwari & Co. for the excellent service we have received during our recent engagements. The lawyers are exceptional, experienced, and extremely professional.

Their service was exemplary, and the entire process was well streamlined by the firm. Your team worked closely with us at every step, which made the process smooth and stress-free.

They have delivered what they promised, and I would gladly recommend their services.

A leading Gaming Certification Company in the US

FAQ

What to do if I got an ED notice?

If you get ED notice then you must contact a lawyer immediately and take legal help to understand the scope of the investigation and your rights under PMLA. The Enforcement Directorate has powers to summon, seize and arrest in cases related to white collar crime including money laundering and foreign exchange violations. MAHESHWARI & CO. assists with representation at every stage of ED proceedings.

What is the punishment for white collar crime in India?

If you are found guilty of white collar crime in India then the punishment can include imprisonment up to ten years depending on the nature of the offence and the law invoked such as IPC PMLA Companies Act or SEBI Act. Penalties can also include heavy fines, disqualification from holding office or seizure of property. Since white collar crime cases often involve overlapping statutes and agencies MAHESHWARI & CO. provides strategic legal defence across every stage of investigation and prosecution.

How to defend an Enforcement Directorate case?

To defend an Enforcement Directorate case you must respond with proper legal documents, attend every summons and protect your rights during search, seizure or arrest. Most ED investigations relate to white collar crime under PMLA which involves a reverse burden of proof. You should also seek legal help to file writ petitions or anticipatory bail if needed.

How to handle a notice under Section 148 of Income Tax Act?

To handle a notice under Section 148 of Income Tax Act you must file the return or explanation within the deadline mentioned in the notice. This notice is often issued in white collar crime investigations where the department believes your income for a past year escaped assessment. A wrong or delayed reply can lead to reassessment and penalties.

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Let our experience pave the path to your success.