Bhubaneswar, Oct 18: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested Pratap Kumar Rout, the Odisha head of Hejex Fund LLP, in connection with a massive financial fraud exceeding Rs1,000 crore across India, officials said on Saturday.

Rout, a resident of Bayalish Mouza in Cuttack, was taken into custody and remanded to judicial custody following his arrest.

#Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested Pratap Kumar Rout, chief of Hejex Fund LLP, in a large‑scale financial fraud involving more than ₹1,000 crore across India and ₹139 crore in Odisha from more than 1,200 depositors.#EOW #ChitFund #Cheating #Fraud… pic.twitter.com/INCUlTaKpx

— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) October 18, 2025

Hejex Fund LLP, registered in Goa in 2023, allegedly duped over three lakh depositors nationwide. In Odisha alone, more than 1,200 individuals were defrauded of Rs139 crore. The company operated offices in 10 states, collecting funds under the guise of high-return investment schemes.

The firm was reportedly owned by Dinesh Kumar Jain and Kuldeep Singh Panwar, with Rout serving as a partner responsible for operations in Odisha. EOW continues its efforts to apprehend other absconding accused linked to the scam.

Also Read: Odisha Police SI Exam Scam: Four More Arrested, Prime Accused Still Absconding

Authorities revealed that the company’s deceptive practices spanned multiple regions, exploiting investor trust and siphoning off large sums. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation, with further action underway to recover assets and bring all perpetrators to justice.

This case highlights the growing need for vigilance against fraudulent investment schemes and reinforces the role of enforcement agencies in protecting public interest.