The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Sadhna Group chairman and managing director Rakesh Kumar Gupta in a money-laundering investigation involving alleged proceeds of crime worth ₹168 crore. The case stems from a Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing FIR concerning alleged irregularities in the insolvency of Sadhna Media Pvt Ltd, payments to related entities and suspected cash transactions involving cryptocurrency and hawala channels. A court granted the agency five days of custody to investigate the alleged money trail and examine seized electronic devices and financial records. The allegations remain subject to legal proceedings.
ED Arrests Sadhna Group MD Rakesh Gupta in Rs 168 Crore Money-Laundering Case
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Dr Rakesh Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of Sadhna Group, in a case of alleged proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 168 crore. The court has given the agency five days in detention.
Sadhna Group MD Rakesh Gupta arrested by ED in alleged Rs 168 crore money-laundering case; ED says financial transactions related to media businesses and affiliated entities. Gupta, 63, was taken into custody Friday night and brought before a court early Saturday morning, October 10, 2026.
As per the court order, Gupta was arrested at 10.25 pm at Ishwar Farms in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. He was brought before the court at 2.03 am on Saturday after the grounds of his arrest were communicated to him.
The Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler directed Gupta to be sent to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for five days. The court directed that he be produced again by 4 pm on October 15, saying five days was justified instead of the seven sought.
Sadhna Group is the owner of Sadhna TV and other media networks. The case pertains to alleged financial irregularities, transactions with related creditors, and dealing of assets linked to Sadhna Media Pvt Ltd (SMPL).
ED Arrests Sadhna Group MD Rakesh Gupta After Delhi Police FIR
The ED registered its case on the basis of the First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing on September 29. The FIR mentions several sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust, and other offences.
Gupta is the second accused in the case in question. The allegations are still before the courts, and the agency’s assertions have not been proved to be findings of guilt in the criminal case.
ED Alleges Rs 168 Crore in Proceeds of Crime
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that Gupta had engineered the insolvency of SMPL through related creditors holding 99.41 per cent of its committee of creditors. As per the agency, this deal helped in the settlement of income-tax dues of Rs 110.10 crore for Rs 20 lakh.
The agency also alleged that after the resale of SMPL and Aryan TV, Rs 2.50 crore to Rs 2.82 crore was received in cash through USDT cryptocurrency and hawala channels. It also alleged that SMPL had made payments to related creditors to the tune of Rs 4.48 crore, including Rs 2,99,55,042.35 to Gupta's company M/s Sharpline Broadcast Ltd.
The ED also referred to a final order of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) dated 29 May 2025. The agency said the order held Gupta as the alleged mastermind of manipulation of shares in M/s Sadhna Broadcast Ltd and jointly and severally liable for around Rs 58 crore.
The agency said the alleged proceeds of crime have been provisionally assessed at about Rs 168 crore. It said the records of the group were being maintained at its Gol Market office in New Delhi, which brings the matter within the jurisdiction of the relevant court under section 44(1)(a) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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Why the ED Sought Custody of Rakesh Gupta
Special Public Prosecutor Simon Benjamin told the court that the custody was required to trace alleged hawala cash of around Rs 2.99 crore linked to Sharpline Broadcast, and Rs 8.98 crore entered as payable to Saroj Construction and Graphisads without a documented bank trail.
The agency also sought to investigate the liquidated assets of SMPL and to examine the information retrieved from the seized iPhone 13 Pro and iPad Pro of Gupta. It plans to review statements recorded on October 9, broadcast receipts in Dubai and Sydney, and crypto-related hawala settlements.
The investigators are also searching accounting books, bank documents and demat records at the Gol Market office while probing the role of M/s Saroj Constwell Pvt Ltd. Concerns about possible witness tampering were cited by the ED, as Gupta's employees and relatives are witnesses.
What Happens Next in the Money-Laundering Case?
Gupta was remanded to five days in custody and ordered to appear back in court by 4 pm on 15 October. The investigation will be along the lines of tracing the financial transactions, going through records, and verifying the alleged transfer of funds.
As the case progresses, the claims against Gupta and the entities named by the ED will have to be tested in the court of law. Sprouts News will continue to monitor developments, including further court action and any official comment from the accused or companies involved.
