Satyam Scam: INR 14,162 Crore (Approx.)

Ramalinga Raju, founder of Satyam Computers, and his brother Rama Raju were the perpetrators of this scam. Among the biggest scams in recent history, Raju and his aides started overstating the amount in the balance sheet for transactions. During a probe by CBI, Ramalinga Raju confessed to forging the company’s revenues, so as to inflate share prices. The loss to shareholders was estimated at around ₹14,000 crores before Satyam was sold to Tech Mahindra in an auction.

7 Biggest Financial Scams in India

India has faced some of the biggest financial scams in the last two decades, leaving a trail of deceit and financial loss. With India being a fast-growing economy, there has been a huge influx of money flowing in and out of the system. While this has surely paved the way for economic growth, it has also allowed some individuals to use the loopholes in the financial system to their advantage. 

These scams often involve cleverly devised projects that turn out to be fraudulent, causing immense harm to investors. The stock market, a crucial aspect of India’s financial landscape, has been a breeding ground for manipulation, affecting the trust of many. Various cases have unfolded, revealing Ponzi schemes, where promised returns to lure in unsuspecting individuals, only for their investments to vanish. These financial missteps underline the importance of scrutinizing projects, understanding the stock market, and being cautious in financial dealings to protect against such cases.

From the Harshad Mehta case to the infamous 2G spectrum scam, here’s a list of the 7 biggest financial scams in India:

List of Biggest Financial Scams in India

  • 1. ‘Coalgate’: INR 1.86 Lakh Crore (Approx.)
  • 2. 2G Spectrum Scam: INR 1.76 Lakh Crore (Approx.) 
  • 3. CWG Scam: INR 70,000 Crore (Approx.) 
  • 4. Nirav Modi – PNB Bank Fraud: INR 14,000 Crore (Approx.) 
  • 5. Vijay Mallaya: INR 9,000 Crore (Approx.) 
  • 6. Satyam Scam: INR 14,162 Crore (Approx.) 
  • 7. Harshad Mehta’s Stock Market Scam: INR 5,000 Crore (Approx.) 

Similar Reads

1. ‘Coalgate’: INR 1.86 Lakh Crore (Approx.)

The ‘Coalgate’ scam was among the biggest scams in India, partly because of the government’s supposed role in the scandal. As per a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, the then UPA government was involved in the inefficient and possibly illegal allocation of coal blocks from 2004 to 2009. During the revision of the guidelines between 1993-2003, a total of 70 coal blocks were allocated by the government. CAG argued that even though the government had the power to auction these coal mines, it didn’t do so, helping allocatees make “windfall gains”....

2. 2G Spectrum Scam: INR 1.76 Lakh Crore (Approx.)

Once famously referred to as the “second biggest instance of abusing executive power“, the 2G spectrum case made headlines globally. The CAG published yet another report in November 2010 that shook the country....

3. CWG Scam: INR 70,000 Crore (Approx.)

The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi made headlines for many reasons, one of them being the ₹70,000 crore scam that happened during the global event. One of the biggest instances of corruption in recent Indian history, it was marred by scams at every stage – from the tender allocation to the athlete’s accommodation....

4. Nirav Modi – PNB Bank Fraud: INR 14,000 Crore (Approx.)

Born and brought up in Antwerp – the ‘diamond capital of the world‘, Nirav Modi is a third-generation diamantaire who ranked 57th on the ‘Forbes Billionaire List’ in 2017. A rather famous businessman with multiple political connections, he’s accused of committing fraud worth ₹14,000 crores with his uncle – Mehul Choksi....

5. Vijay Mallaya: INR 9,000 Crore (Approx.)

The ‘King of Good Times’, Vijay Mallya was chairman at UB Group – the parent company of Kingfisher Airlines. Flamboyant & flashy, Mallya enjoyed immense popularity before a loan fraud case put a full stop to his entrepreneurial career....

6. Satyam Scam: INR 14,162 Crore (Approx.)

Ramalinga Raju, founder of Satyam Computers, and his brother Rama Raju were the perpetrators of this scam. Among the biggest scams in recent history, Raju and his aides started overstating the amount in the balance sheet for transactions. During a probe by CBI, Ramalinga Raju confessed to forging the company’s revenues, so as to inflate share prices. The loss to shareholders was estimated at around ₹14,000 crores before Satyam was sold to Tech Mahindra in an auction....

7. Harshad Mehta’s Stock Market Scam: INR 5,000 Crore (Approx.)

If you’ve seen the 2020 series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, chances are you’re already aware of this case. Committed by Harshad Mehta, a Gujarati stockbroker; it was the biggest money market scam in India at that point, amounting to nearly ₹5,000 crores in 1992. Taking advantage of loopholes in the banking system, Mehta took loans from various banks and put them in the stock market. He would then raise the price of shares of companies using RFDs (ready-forward deals)....

Final Thoughts

So this was all on the list of the top 7 financial scams in India. While there have been many instances of fraud over the years, none have matched the magnitude of those on this list. Not only did they leave a huge impact on India’s economy, but also forced the government to come up with stringent laws for the future....

FAQS On Biggest Financial Scams in India

What is the biggest financial scandal in the world?...