- Experts from India, UK, and USA spotlight forensic accounting’s pivotal role in transparent governance
- Event marks launch of ACFE Student Chapter at Rashtriya Raksha University
- Symposium stresses ethics, digital forensics, and interdisciplinary intelligence to combat financial crimes
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, NOV 12
The Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), an Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, successfully hosted a two-day International Symposium on Financial Fraud Investigations on November 10–11, 2025, at its Gandhinagar campus. The event was jointly organized by the School of Behavioural Sciences and Forensic Investigations (SBSFI) and the RRU Student Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
Centred on the theme “Highlighting the Role of Forensic Accounting in Promoting Ethical and Transparent Financial Systems,” the symposium brought together experts from India, the United States, and the United Kingdom to deliberate on new frontiers in forensic investigation, financial integrity, and digital-era fraud detection.
“Forensic accounting is not just about detection—it’s about governance,” says SEBI veteran
Delivering the keynote address, V. S. Sundaresan, Former Executive Director at SEBI, underscored that forensic accounting has evolved from a post-fraud tool to a core governance mechanism integrating financial, investigative, and legal disciplines.
Highlighting lessons from major corporate failures such as IL&FS, DHFL, and Evergrande, he stressed that even technically compliant statements could conceal ethical misconduct — making forensic scrutiny vital for investor confidence. Sundaresan urged professionals to move from “compliance by compulsion to governance by conviction”, calling for capacity building, ethical leadership, and inter-agency collaboration to strengthen India’s financial ecosystem.
Global experts decode digital-era frauds and forensic challenges
The symposium featured eminent speakers and panel discussions addressing topics like cryptocurrency investigations, insider threats, and hybrid financial warfare.
- Prof. Shweta Jain, Jay John College of Criminal Justice, New York, explored challenges in tracking cryptocurrency-related frauds.
- CA Samir Chaudhary, Secretary, Ahmedabad Branch of WIRC–ICAI, discussed ICAI’s forensic audit standards and their impact on regulatory compliance.
- Neeraj Kulshrestha, MD & CEO, NSE IFSC Clearing Corporation, emphasized strengthening surveillance and compliance in capital markets.
A panel on “Interdisciplinary Intelligence: Building 360º Frameworks for Financial Fraud Detection”—moderated by Dr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor, SBSFI—featured experts from Ernst & Young LLP, ECS Corporation, and RRU’s SASET School, stressing collaboration among auditors, analysts, and cyber specialists.
Behavioural insights, digital forensics, and hybrid threats in focus
On Day Two, Ravi Verma, IRS (Retd.), Emeritus Faculty, SBSFI–RRU, spoke on the financial dimensions of hybrid warfare and cross-border money flows, while Akash Rosen, Digital Forensics Expert at Resecurity (India), outlined cutting-edge tools for tracing digital fraud.
Another discussion on “Breaking Silos: Collaboration Across Disciplines to Combat Financial Crime”, moderated by Ms. Anshu Singh, highlighted cooperation between law enforcement, regulators, and forensic experts.
Adding a global dimension, Prof. Mark Bottom, Director, Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, University of Portsmouth (UK), examined emerging global fraud risks, while Dr. Sridhar Ramamoorti, President, Forensic Accounting Section, American Accounting Association (USA), explained how behavioral psychology can strengthen ethics in fraud prevention.
Empowering students for future-ready financial intelligence
The symposium also marked the formal launch of the RRU–ACFE Student Chapter, providing young scholars and practitioners access to global standards and certifications in forensic accounting. Research paper sessions showcased emerging work on fraud analytics, behavioural profiling, and financial forensics, evaluated by RRU’s academic panel.
Concluding the event, organizers emphasized that interdisciplinary education, ethical governance, and digital forensics are essential to safeguard India’s financial architecture and ensure transparent, accountable systems in the age of cyber finance.
