ED arrests Suumaya Industries promoter in Rs 998-cr case; probe brings Dentsu under lens

According to media reports, ED has placed Dentsu Communications India under scrutiny for its alleged role in the suspected money flow

by e4m Staff
Published: Nov 20, 2025 8:29 PM | 2 min read

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday arrested Mumbai-based businessman, promoter of Suumaya Industries, for allegedly laundering ₹998 crore linked to Haryana’s Need to Feed scheme, an initiative launched during the pandemic for large-scale procurement of PPE kits and other essentials. ED alleges that funds meant for the programme were diverted through a web of shell and associated entities, eventually forming a complex cycle of round-tripping and layering.

According to media reports, ED has placed Dentsu Communications India under scrutiny for its alleged role in the suspected money flow. As per the case, Suumaya’s former CFO had claimed the company secured a ₹7,000-crore PPE-related CSR contract through Dentsu under the state scheme — a statement that the agency is now examining closely.

Investigators say the alleged laundering pattern involved routed funds passing through several intermediary firms before landing with Veda Multicorp LLP, after which money was allegedly transferred to Dentsu Communications. A portion of the funds was then reportedly remitted back to Capalpha Trade Pvt Ltd, a Suumaya-linked entity.

This circular flow, the ED believes, suggests that Dentsu’s role “was not peripheral but potentially integral to how the suspected laundering cycle was structured.” The agency is now probing whether Dentsu was aware of the nature of these transactions or if the contracts and transfers were misrepresented by Suumaya and its associates, reports say.

The case could have broader implications for the advertising holding group which is battling economic pressure and looking to sell off its India and international business, outside Japan.

Dentsu India has said: "In 2021, we identified suspected fraudulent activity conducted by third parties and some of InDeed’s former employees against whom criminal complaints have also been filed. This activity was limited to the InDeed business only. We proactively reported the matter to the relevant authorities and have been fully co-operating since. We take fraud and wrong-doing very seriously with a zero-tolerance policy."