Rs1.5Billion Money Laundering Case: Gooljaury Business Empire Under Siege

Anishta Rughoo, the ex-wife of businessman Rakesh Gooljaury, is under scrutiny by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) for alleged money laundering. She is suspected of acting as a front or “passe-nom” for her ex-husband, who has been linked to various financial activities.

On June 23, FCC agents raided the headquarters of Diamoda Foods Ltd, a company managed by Rughoo in Bois-Chéri, Moka.

During the operation, several boxes containing documents and electronic devices were seized.

These items are believed to hold financial records related to Diamoda Foods, which runs the luxury bakery and pastry chain Paul. The seized materials have been sealed for investigation.

Following the raid, Rughoo appeared at the FCC office accompanied by lawyer Beeharry Panray.

She was questioned and then permitted to leave the premises the same evening.

Rughoo claimed that she owns the Paul franchise business, stating that she acquired it after her divorce from Gooljaury, as part of the division of assets.

In addition to documents, two mobile phones and two computers were confiscated and sent to the FCC’s Digital Laboratory for analysis.

Since May 19, the FCC has held a court-issued search and seizure order targeting multiple companies associated with Gooljaury.

The order included Diamoda Foods Ltd, which operates Paul outlets across the island, including at SSR International Airport; Swarovski jewelry stores via Goldmond Ltd and Wool Mill Co Ltd; and Pandora stores through Mafis Trading Ltd.

The order also targets shares held by Neetesha Teelwah in Universal Fusion Foods & Restaurateurs Ltd.

The court document prohibits Rughoo and Teelwah from transferring, selling, or ceding their shares, which the FCC suspects were obtained through a Rs 1.5 billion “toxic loan” from the former Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) Private Banking Centre (MPCB).

As part of the investigation, Rakesh Gooljaury and his brother Prameshwar Gooljaury were detained by the FCC on February 6.

The authorities continue to examine their financial dealings and connections to the companies under investigation.

Source: Defi Media