Police Arrest Former MCB Executive Over Rs 45 Million Menlo Park Laundering Scandal

A former relationship executive at the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) has been arrested for a second time as part of a high-profile investigation into the “Menlo Park affair.”

Deepshikha Gowreesunkur was taken into custody on Wednesday, 15 April, by the Anti-Money Laundering Unit (AMLU) of the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID).

Following an interrogation in the presence of her barrister, Me Ruben Mooroongapillay, she was released on parole.

She is expected to be provisionally charged with money laundering this Thursday.

The Allegations

Police investigators allege that Ms Gowreesunkur received a portion of funds into her personal bank account that were originally destined for Menlo Park Ltd.

The company had secured financial assistance from the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC) totaling 45,000,000 MUR.

This arrest marks the second time the former banker has been ensnared in the probe.

In May 2025, she was apprehended by the AMLU on suspicion of “conspiracy to pervert the course of justice,” later gaining bail from the Pamplemousses Court for 5,000 MUR.

A Widening Investigation

The Menlo Park case has already seen the questioning of several high-ranking figures, including:

• Renganaden Padayachy: Former Minister of Finance.
• Harvesh Seegolam: Former Governor of the Bank of Mauritius (BoM).
• Jitendra Bissessur: Former Director General of the MIC.
• Stéphane and Mary Queenie Adam: Directors of Menlo Park Ltd.

Allegations of Political Pressure

At the heart of the scandal are claims of undue influence. Former officials from the BoM and the MIC have reportedly pointed the finger at the ex-Finance Minister, accusing him of using his position to force through a funding request that the MIC had initially rejected as too risky.

Despite those initial warnings, the Rs 45,000,000 sum was approved. Detectives now believe that a portion of these public funds was diverted through private accounts, including the one held by Ms Gowreesunkur.

Source: Defi Media