Rs 657 crore bank scam: CBI probe uncovers Ribhav Rishi’s luxury life, dancer girlfriend & high-profile parties

PTC Web Desk: The CBI investigation into the alleged Rs 657-crore bank scam involving government funds in Haryana and Chandigarh has brought several details to light, including the relationship between alleged scam mastermind Ribhav Rishi and a woman dancer who is now a key witness in the case.

According to the CBI, Rishi met the woman at an event in Chandigarh in March or April 2025, where she was performing. The two met again at a farmhouse party in Jaipur on May 8, 2025.

The woman later told investigators that Rishi met her at the St Regis hotel in Mumbai on July 5, 2025, and told her that he loved her. At the time, Rishi was already married.

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She told the CBI that Rishi introduced himself as an event planner associated with SRR Planning Gurus and also claimed to be involved in the rice import-export business and to be working as a branch manager with IDFC First Bank.

The CBI has alleged that SRR Planning Gurus was among the entities used in the alleged diversion of government funds.

What did Rishi allegedly promise the woman?

According to her statement to the CBI, Rishi told her that he would divorce his wife, Divya Arora, and marry her. The woman, who is from Siwan in Bihar, said Rishi also promised to support her and her family. She told investigators that he paid Rs 1 lakh as a token amount for a house in Dwarka, Delhi, on July 18, 2025.

She claimed that the property involved a total cash payment of Rs 3.10 crore, with Rishi paying most of the amount. She said she contributed Rs 49 lakh, while another Rs 90 lakh was to be paid towards the property.

According to her statement, she began living in the house on January 2, 2026.

She also told the CBI that Rishi paid her Rs 10 lakh every month from August 2025 to January 2026, amounting to Rs 56 lakh. She said the payments were linked to her decision to stop dancing as a source of income.

Who is the woman dancer?

The woman is described in the CBI investigation as a professional dancer who performed at private events organised by Rishi.

She told investigators that she performed at only two or three parties organised by him. However, she said Rishi ensured her presence at several other events held at Jade Manor in Zirakpur, where she was not required to perform.

According to her statement, Rishi paid the event organiser Rs 2 lakh for her presence at each such event, with half of that amount being given to her.

She has emerged as a witness in the CBI's investigation and has provided details about the parties, people who attended them, payments and her interactions with Rishi.

What happened at the parties?

The woman told the CBI that parties were organised at locations in Jaipur, Delhi and Mumbai, while several Chandigarh area events were held at Jade Manor in Zirakpur.

She alleged that Haryana government officials and other people accused in the case attended some of these gatherings.

According to her statement, five or six dancers were arranged for some events by an organiser identified as Nitin Anand, a UAE resident. She said around Rs 15-20 lakh was spent on each party.

She further alleged that currency notes were arranged by Rishi and thrown by some government officials at dancers during the events. The money collected by the dancers was allegedly divided between the dancers and the organiser.

The CBI has recorded her account regarding the people who allegedly attended these parties and the activities that took place there.

Foreign trips with accused persons

The woman also told investigators about several trips she made with Rishi and other people named in the case.

In August 2025, she travelled with Rishi and others to Macau and later Thailand. Those accompanying them allegedly included former Haryana government official Naresh Kumar Bhuwani, former AU Small Finance Bank regional manager Arun Sharma and former IDFC First Bank relationship manager Abhay Kumar.

On November 21, 2025, she travelled with Rishi to Dubai along with Sharma, Kumar and Bhuwani. She said she and Rishi stayed at the Burj Al Arab.

According to her statement, Rishi later showed her a newly built four-bedroom duplex near the new Dubai airport and told her that he planned to settle in Dubai with her in the future.

The couple reportedly travelled to Dubai again in January 2026, when Rishi allegedly booked a Toyota Land Cruiser.

What is the ₹657-crore bank scam?

The case concerns the alleged illegal transfer of money from government department bank accounts in Haryana and the Chandigarh Administration.

The CBI alleges that government funds were diverted through a network involving officials, bank employees and private entities. Investigators have alleged that companies, including SRR Planning Gurus and Swastik Desh Projects were used in the transactions.

The CBI has alleged that Rishi authorised at least 25 fraudulent debit transactions worth Rs 187.35 crore from multiple government accounts.

According to the agency, Rs 5.40 crore was received by Rishi through SRR Planning Gurus and another Rs 1.50 crore through Swastik Desh Projects in his personal accounts. His wife, Divya Arora, allegedly received Rs 18.32 crore.

The CBI has also seized the woman's Samsung Z Fold smartphone as part of the investigation.

The case also includes allegations against government officials and bank employees. Investigators are continuing to examine financial transactions, communications and other evidence to establish how government money was allegedly moved and who benefited from it.