The Ghana Police Service has launched a nationwide manhunt for two accused Indian nationals who allegedly acquired Ghanaian citizenship under false pretences and are implicated in a string of fraud cases spanning Ghana, India, and the United Kingdom.
The main suspect, identified as Ms. Niharika Handa, who also goes by the names Niharika Gautam and Niharika Ajay Handa, is accused of duping high-profile individuals, including respected Ghana-based businessman Mr. Amar Deep Singh Hari, Chairman of IPMC and co-founder of Gold Crest Refinery.
Authorities say Ms. Handa, along with her son Punar Vasu Handa, manipulated Ghana’s citizenship and residency systems to secure local documents and then used her Ghanaian passport to establish fraudulent ventures abroad.
Millions lost in refinery partnership
Mr. Hari, who has lived and worked in Ghana for more than 30 years, is reported to have lost millions of dollars in what investigators describe as a well-orchestrated scheme.
Ms. Handa and her son allegedly siphoned funds from a joint venture in the gold refinery business before absconding overseas.
Instead of addressing the allegations, she filed counter-claims against Mr. Hari, accusing him of trespassing on his own property, stealing assets, and hoarding gold.
However, a search conducted by Ghana’s National Security at Mr. Hari’s facilities did not uncover any evidence supporting her allegations.
Dubious citizenship acquisition
Beyond the business disputes, investigators have uncovered troubling details about how Ms. Handa obtained Ghanaian nationality.
Security and intelligence sources revealed that she and her son acquired Ghanaian citizenship despite failing to meet the mandatory seven-year continuous residency requirement.
In the process, she reportedly falsified her date of birth, changing it from 14 September 1961 on her Indian passport to 14 September 1965 on her Ghanaian documents.
Authorities are now probing how she managed to secure Ghana police clearances, residency permits, and ultimately Ghanaian passports, despite her questionable background.
Using Ghanaian identity abroad
Not long after acquiring Ghanaian documents, Ms. Handa allegedly used her new passport to secure visas for the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and Schengen countries.
In the UK, she is said to have assumed the identity of Niharika Ajay Handa, where she registered at least three companies, including Rika Pure Gold Limited, using Ghanaian identity papers with the altered birth date.
Trail of fraud in India
Meanwhile, records from Indian courts reveal that Ms. Handa fled her home country in 2021 to escape prosecution. She currently faces 14 non-bailable arrest warrants issued by Indian authorities.
Court filings published on indiankanoon.org, a legal information platform in India, show her involvement in a real estate scam linked to M/s. Tamanna Realtors Pvt. Ltd..
One complaint alleged that after a victim paid Rs. 1.5 crores (about $180,000), he discovered that the company, its offices, and the promised building did not exist.
Attempts to contact Ms. Handa and her associates failed, as they stopped answering calls.
High society cover in Ghana
Back in Ghana, Ms. Handa is accused of embedding herself within elite social and business circles.
She reportedly maintained a residence in the upscale Trassaco Estate in Accra, where she hosted lavish events to build networks with philanthropists and business leaders.
Investigators say she exploited these relationships to pass dud cheques, secure loans, attract investors, and enhance her credibility before fleeing once suspicions mounted.
National security concerns
Security analysts warn that the case exposes serious vulnerabilities in Ghana’s citizenship and residency systems.
Authorities stress that investigations are ongoing and that efforts are underway to trace Ms. Handa and her son.
Attempts by reporters to reach Ms. Handa and Punar Vasu Handa for comment were unsuccessful.
