[India] Major payroll fraud at multinational company allegedly went undetected for years

In Thane, India, a major payroll fraud at a multinational company - allegedly involving the misappropriation of more than ₹5.78 crore - has been revealed, leading to the registration of a criminal case against its former Senior Payroll Manager, The 420 reports.

The case comes in the wake of an internal audit that reportedly uncovered large-scale financial irregularities in the company’s payroll and employee settlement process.

The complaint was reportedly filed by the company’s Senior Director (Human Resources), Janine Adrienne Fernandez. It stated that the alleged fraud took place between 2021 and 2025. 

Investigators claim that the accused diverted company funds into two personal accounts at Standard Chartered Bank by manipulating payments related to full-and-final settlements of employees who had already left the organisation.

According to the complaint, the internal investigation detected total financial irregularities amounting to approximately ₹7.91 crore. Company officials stated that nearly ₹2.13 crore was subsequently recovered or returned during the internal review process. But around ₹5.78 crore remains unrecovered. The company subsequently approached the police and lodged a formal complaint.

Preliminary findings suggest that the accused allegedly created fake payroll and salary vouchers to facilitate unauthorised fund transfers. Investigators reportedly believe the forged payroll records were used to disguise the transactions as legitimate employee settlement payments, allowing the money to be routed into personal bank accounts without immediate detection.

Police officials said the case highlights the risks posed by insider financial fraud within corporate payroll systems. Investigators are now examining payroll databases, banking transactions, financial records, approval workflows, and digital audit trails to determine how the alleged manipulation went undetected for several years.

In addition, authorities are interrogating whether weaknesses in internal financial controls or supervisory mechanisms enabled the suspected fraud. The role of any other employees or external individuals who may have knowingly or unknowingly assisted in the alleged diversion of funds is also under examination.

Investigators are reportedly expected to carry out a forensic analysis of digital records, including payroll software logs, electronic approvals, emails, and banking data, to reconstruct the complete flow of funds and identify the exact methodology allegedly used to execute the fraud.

Police registered a case against former Senior Payroll Manager Sandeep Ambare on charges related to alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust, and financial misappropriation. The investigation is ongoing with the intention of establishing the complete extent of the financial loss and determining whether additional offences or conspirators are involved.

Officials have stated that banking records, digital evidence, and internal company documents continue to be under detailed examination. Adding that further legal action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have reportedly yet to rule out additional arrests or charges, should evidence establish the involvement of other individuals in the alleged payroll fraud.

Source: The 420

In Thane, India, a major payroll fraud at a multinational company - allegedly involving the misappropriation of more than ₹5.78 crore - has been revealed, leading to the registration of a criminal case against its former Senior Payroll Manager, The 420 reports.

The case comes in the wake of an internal audit that reportedly uncovered large-scale financial irregularities in the company’s payroll and employee settlement process.

The complaint was reportedly filed by the company’s Senior Director (Human Resources), Janine Adrienne Fernandez. It stated that the alleged fraud took place between 2021 and 2025. 

Investigators claim that the accused diverted company funds into two personal accounts at Standard Chartered Bank by manipulating payments related to full-and-final settlements of employees who had already left the organisation.

According to the complaint, the internal investigation detected total financial irregularities amounting to approximately ₹7.91 crore. Company officials stated that nearly ₹2.13 crore was subsequently recovered or returned during the internal review process. But around ₹5.78 crore remains unrecovered. The company subsequently approached the police and lodged a formal complaint.

Preliminary findings suggest that the accused allegedly created fake payroll and salary vouchers to facilitate unauthorised fund transfers. Investigators reportedly believe the forged payroll records were used to disguise the transactions as legitimate employee settlement payments, allowing the money to be routed into personal bank accounts without immediate detection.

Police officials said the case highlights the risks posed by insider financial fraud within corporate payroll systems. Investigators are now examining payroll databases, banking transactions, financial records, approval workflows, and digital audit trails to determine how the alleged manipulation went undetected for several years.

In addition, authorities are interrogating whether weaknesses in internal financial controls or supervisory mechanisms enabled the suspected fraud. The role of any other employees or external individuals who may have knowingly or unknowingly assisted in the alleged diversion of funds is also under examination.

Investigators are reportedly expected to carry out a forensic analysis of digital records, including payroll software logs, electronic approvals, emails, and banking data, to reconstruct the complete flow of funds and identify the exact methodology allegedly used to execute the fraud.

Police registered a case against former Senior Payroll Manager Sandeep Ambare on charges related to alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust, and financial misappropriation. The investigation is ongoing with the intention of establishing the complete extent of the financial loss and determining whether additional offences or conspirators are involved.

Officials have stated that banking records, digital evidence, and internal company documents continue to be under detailed examination. Adding that further legal action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have reportedly yet to rule out additional arrests or charges, should evidence establish the involvement of other individuals in the alleged payroll fraud.

Source: The 420