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Rashtriya Raksha University Hosts International Symposium on Financial Fraud Investigations

A Two-Day International Symposium on Financial Fraud Investigations on November 10 and 11, 2025

Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), an Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, successfully organised a two-day International Symposium on Financial Fraud Investigations on November 10 and 11, 2025. The event was jointly hosted by the School of Behavioural Sciences and Forensic Investigations (SBSFI) and the RRU Student Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The symposium focused on the theme “Highlighting the Role of Forensic Accounting in Promoting Ethical and Transparent Financial Systems.”

The symposium commenced with an inaugural session that emphasised the growing importance of forensic accounting in safeguarding financial systems and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in fraud detection and prevention. It also marked the formal inauguration of the RRU Student Chapter, ACFE. The Chief Guest for the Symposium, Shri. V. S. Sundaresan, Former Executive Director at SEBI, highlighted the following points:

Forensic Accounting as a Core Governance Tool:
It goes beyond fraud detection—integrating financial expertise, investigative skills, and legal insight to uncover hidden financial misconduct and support regulatory enforcement.

Restoring Trust in Financial Markets:
Forensic audits mandated by SEBI have played a crucial role in exposing fund diversion, misuse of IPO proceeds, and false reporting, reinforcing investor confidence and market integrity.
Lessons from Major Corporate Failures:
High-profile cases like ILFS, DHFL, and Evergrande reveal how technically compliant financial statements can still be ethically misleading—highlighting the need for forensic scrutiny to uncover the truth.
Ethics and Transparency as Non-Negotiables:
The speech emphasizes moving from “compliance by compulsion” to “governance by conviction,” with forensic accounting acting as a deterrent and enabler of ethical behavior.
Building Future-Ready Forensic Capacity:
A call to action for investing in skill development, advanced analytics, inter-agency collaboration, and ethical leadership to embed forensic capabilities across the financial ecosystem.

The technical sessions featured presentations by national and international experts. Prof. Shweta Jain from Jay John College of Criminal Justice, New York, USA, spoke on cryptocurrency investigations and the challenges posed by decentralized digital currencies. CA Samir Chaudhary, Secretary of the Ahmedabad Branch of WIRC – ICAI, introduced the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India’s forensic audit standards and their role in enhancing investigative excellence. Mr. Neeraj Kulshrestha, Managing Director and CEO of NSE IFSC Clearing Corporation Limited (NSEICC), Gandhinagar, discussed insider threats in capital markets and the importance of surveillance and compliance mechanisms.

A panel discussion on “Interdisciplinary Intelligence: Building 360º Frameworks for Financial Fraud Detection” was moderated by Dr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor (FAFI), SBSFI – RRU. Panellists included Dr. Akash Thakar, Assistant Professor, SASET – RRU; Mr. Chandresh Chimnani, Partner, Forensics Integrity Services, Ernst & Young LLP, Mumbai; Mr. Vijay Mandora, Chairman and Managing Director, ECS Corporation, Ahmedabad.

Mr. Nivrtee Patil, Forensic Professional to the Maharashtra Home Department, delivered a session on detecting insurance fraud, highlighting common patterns and investigative techniques.

Research paper presentations were conducted and evaluated by a panel of judges comprising Dr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor, SBSFI; Dr. Abhijeet Singh, Assistant Professor, SBSFI – RRU; Dr. Jugal Dave, Assistant Professor, DRP – RRU. The papers covered topics such as forensic accounting, fraud analytics, behavioural profiling, and case studies in financial crime.

On the second day, Mr. Ravi Verma, IRS (Retd.), Emeritus Resource Faculty, SBSFI – RRU, presented on the financial dimensions of hybrid warfare and transnational threats. Mr. Akash Rosen, Digital Forensics Expert and Investigator at Resecurity (India), discussed the evolution of fraud schemes in the digital age and the use of forensic tools in modern investigations.

A panel discussion on “Breaking Silos: Collaboration Across Disciplines to Combat Financial Crime” was moderated by Ms. Anshu Singh, Assistant Professor (FAFI), SBSFI – RRU. Panellists included Mr. Ravi Verma, IRS (Retd.) and Mr. Akash Rosen, Resecurity (India) and Dr. Jatin Patel, Project Director (I/C)- SITAICS, RRU. The discussion emphasised the need for cross-disciplinary cooperation among law enforcement, financial institutions, and forensic experts.

Prof. Mark Bottom, Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, University of Portsmouth, UK, delivered a session on emerging global fraud risks and evolving regulatory responses. Dr. Sridhar Ramamoorti, President of the Forensic Accounting Section, American Accounting Association, and Associate Professor at the University of Dayton, USA, explored behavioral psychology and ethics in fraud prevention and detection.

The symposium concluded with a valedictory session, where organizers expressed gratitude to all speakers, participants, and institutions involved. The event reinforced the importance of forensic accounting, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global cooperation in building resilient and transparent financial systems.