Ghana-based businessman, Chairman of IPMC and Gold Crest Refinery Limited, Amar Deep Singh Hari, has dismissed criminal allegations levelled against him as complete falsehoods.
According to him, the allegations were orchestrated by Ms. Niharika Handa and her son, Mr. Punar Vasu Handa—two individuals he recently discovered are suspected fugitives facing multiple court cases abroad.
In a statement dated September 10, 2025, Mr. Hari said: “I must express at the outset that these allegations are a complete falsehood cleverly masqueraded by Ms. Niharika Handa and her son, Mr. Punar Vasu Handa, two individuals who I recently discovered are fugitives facing different court cases abroad.”
Fraud allegations in Ghana
Mr. Hari alleged that Ms. Handa and her son not only defrauded government agencies in Ghana through false pretenses but also swindled his company, Gold Crest Refinery, of millions of dollars.
He disclosed that he had petitioned the Police CID with documentary and pictorial evidence concerning the alleged criminal activities masterminded by the duo, who he claimed acted in collusion with some dismissed employees of his company.
Mr. Hari expressed confidence that once investigations were completed, the courts would deliver justice based on the truth.
He also urged the public and institutions to remain vigilant against individuals exploiting Ghana’s openness and goodwill for criminal purposes.
A life in Ghana
Mr. Hari has lived and worked in Ghana for more than 30 years, during which he has built businesses, created thousands of jobs, and supported charitable causes.
Through his leadership at IPMC, he became known for technology and business innovation, the automation of Ghanaian businesses, youth empowerment, skills development, and long-standing service to the country.
Police launch manhunt
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has launched a nationwide manhunt for Ms. Handa and her son, two Indian nationals who allegedly acquired Ghanaian citizenship under false pretenses and are implicated in fraud cases spanning Ghana, India, and the United Kingdom.
The main suspect, Ms. Handa—also known as Niharika Gautam and Niharika Ajay Handa—is accused of duping high-profile individuals and manipulating Ghana’s residency and citizenship systems to secure local documents.
She is said to have used her Ghanaian passport to establish fraudulent ventures abroad.
Investigators say Ms. Handa and her son allegedly siphoned funds from a joint gold refinery venture with Mr. Hari before fleeing overseas.
Counter-claims and national security search
Instead of addressing the allegations, Ms. Handa reportedly 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 claims.
Dubious citizenship acquisition
Beyond the business disputes, security agencies have uncovered troubling details about Ms. Handa’s acquisition of Ghanaian nationality.
Sources revealed that she and her son obtained Ghanaian citizenship despite failing to meet the mandatory seven-year continuous residency requirement.
In the process, she allegedly 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 investigating how she managed to secure police clearances, residency permits, and ultimately Ghanaian passports despite her questionable background.
Using Ghanaian identity abroad
Shortly 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 reported to have assumed the identity of Niharika Ajay Handa, where she registered at least three companies—including Rika Pure Gold Limited—using her Ghanaian identity papers with the altered birth date.
Trail of fraud in India
Court records in India show that Ms. Handa fled her home country in 2021 to escape prosecution and currently faces 14 non-bailable arrest warrants.
Documents published on indiankanoon.org, a legal information platform, link her to an alleged real estate scam involving M/s. Tamanna Realtors Pvt. Ltd.
In one complaint, a victim alleged that after paying Rs. 1.5 crores (about $180,000), he discovered that the company, its offices, and the promised building did not exist.
Repeated attempts by victims to contact Ms. Handa and her associates failed, as they stopped answering calls.
High-society cover in Ghana
In Ghana, Ms. Handa is accused of embedding herself within elite social and business circles.
She reportedly lived in the upscale Trassaco Estate in Accra, hosting lavish events to build networks with philanthropists and business leaders.
Intelligence indicates that she exploited these relationships to secure loans, attract investors, and enhance her credibility before fleeing when suspicions grew.
National security concerns
Security analysts warn that the case exposes major 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 Mr. Punar Vasu Handa for comment were unsuccessful.
