Do Scamsters Exploit Paid Awards by Times of India to Mislead Investors?
• Bogus Awards, Real Scams Unmasked
• Felicitating Crime: Media and Ministers Complicit
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has exposed a disturbing trend of paid award ceremonies where scamsters, underworld-linked individuals, and fake achievers are felicitated. Accused like Khush Chaturvedi were honoured publicly despite criminal charges. Even corrupt ex-Governor Koshyari and his aide Ulhas Mungekar allegedly profited from such events, misleading citizens and investors alike.
Sprouts SIT Exposes the Business of Image-Washing Through Paid Felicitation Ceremonies
Pune | Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT)
In a disturbing pattern of public recognition being misused to whitewash criminals and fraudsters, individuals accused in financial scams, underworld links, and academic fraud are being openly felicitated at award shows backed by prominent media houses and politicians.
Khush Chaturvedi, director of Atmanirbhar Concepts India—an accused in a ₹3.48 crore investment fraud currently absconding from the Pune Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW)—was recently honoured at an event attended by most corrupt
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, hosted by Times Group’s Pune Times Mirror.
Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) strongly condemns these image-laundering events which mislead the public, embolden scamsters, and damage investor trust.
From Criminals to ‘Award Winners’: The Rise of Paid Publicity Scams
Sprouts SIT Connects the Dots Between Scamsters and Event Organizers
The awarding of Khush Chaturvedi—despite him being wanted by police—exposes the dangerous ecosystem of ‘paid awards’, where individuals buy credibility using media-backed platforms. Companies like Times Group, Lokmat, Pudhari, Mid-Day, and Navbharat are repeatedly named in such events where bogus entrepreneurs and criminal elements are given stage access in exchange for money.
But this isn’t an isolated case. Sprouts News had earlier exposed how former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari also felicitated known underworld operatives, corrupt politicians, and fake PhD agents at similar events. These ceremonies were not only paid for but also allegedly used as a source of personal income.
Sprouts SIT’s investigation revealed that Koshyari’s then-PA Ulhas Mungekar was a key coordinator and silent partner in these award businesses. Following sustained exposure by Sprouts, corrupt aide Ulhas Mungekar was later expelled from the Raj Bhavan system. Yet, the practice of paid awards continues under different banners.
Also Read: ₹800 Cr JNPT Dredging Scam Busted: CBI Probes Port Graft.
White-Collar Criminals Use Awards to Mislead Investors
Political Endorsement at Fault, Media Complicity Ignored
The participation of senior politicians like Nitin Gadkari at such events provides unwarranted legitimacy to fraud-accused individuals. When scamsters like Khush Chaturvedi are seen shaking hands with ministers and holding trophies backed by media logos, investors assume credibility and fall victim again.
These are not honours, but investments—where paying for a trophy is seen as a marketing cost to loot public money. The awards are often followed by digital campaigns, photos in newspapers, and videos that mask the criminal background of recipients.
Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) calls this out as a deep moral and governance failure, enabled by silence from media and deliberate ignorance by political offices.
Sprouts SIT Reaffirms Its Stand Against Paid Awards and Image Laundering
Journalism Must Question, Not Facilitate, Fraud
Sprouts News has consistently spoken out against such ceremonial scams that legitimise criminal activity. These are not just events—they are tools of deception. When people with criminal backgrounds are handed awards, it not only erodes public trust but also endangers honest entrepreneurship and genuine achievement.
Sprouts SIT has tracked and exposed multiple such networks. In the past, our stories have led to institutional action, public awareness, and in some cases, the fall of corrupt facilitators. We remain committed to protecting citizens from award-backed fraud, political hypocrisy, and media-enabled deception.
