Beyond The Boardroom: The Growing Menace of White-Collar Crime in India

ABSTRACT

“The difference between white-collar crime and street crime is that white-collar criminals steal with their pens, and street criminals steal with their guns” Having largely gone unnoticed due to the non-violence of the crime perpetrated, White collar crime is a grave threat to India’s socio-economic fabric. In this paper we examine the broad range of impacts of white-collar crimes such as corporate fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion that threaten the stability of the economy and call into question the base of trust in institutions as part of this we explore how white-collar crimes are a threat to economic development sustainability. The study uncovers systemic weaknesses that permit such offenses by analysing historical milestones, regulatory responses, and global parallels. It looks at the Satyam Scandal, the Nirav Modi Scam, AI-based fraud detection, stronger whistleblower protection, and more. The paper calls for tighter legislation, stronger compliance programs, and greater general awareness about this silent, but pervasive scourge.