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The modern business environment has transformed significantly, and background screening has become a fundamental element of responsible partnership. Acknowledging the critical role of integrity due diligence, most organisations now incorporate background screening for high-risk individuals into their hiring and partnership procedures. This trend reflects an increased recognition of the need to base these hiring and partnership decisions on thoroughly verified reliable information.

In a recent case revolving around a private institution, the college operator with prior criminal records was able to secure regulatory approvals and enrolled thousands of students. Later, investigations revealed links to terrorist financing through opaque channels, demonstrating how high-risk operators can exploit gaps in oversight. This highlights why integrity checks are crucial for risk management and how comprehensive due diligence helps uncover hidden threats. It involves thorough assessment of organization’s corporate governance, practices, and reputation to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities.

From 8 unicorns a decade ago, India has 118 as of 2025, reflecting a 13x growth in high-value startups. The spread is geographical too, as in 2016, only four India States had dedicated startup policies, but today, 31 States / Union Territories have implemented their own dedicated startup policies, largely spurred by the Startup India initiative. This rapid growth underscores the importance of startup due diligence for investors and corporate partners looking to navigate India’s growing startup ecosystem.

In an era of heightened regulatory compliance and escalating financial crime, Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) and Significant Beneficial Owner (SBO) identification has become non-negotiable for regulated firms. Global regulators, FATF standards, and local laws now demand full transparency into UBO ownership and control, making accurate Ultimate Beneficial Owner screening and UBO verification a core component of corporate due diligence.  As financial criminals grow increasingly … Read more

Corporate and investment fraud continues to pose significant challenges for organizations. Recent trends indicate that even well-vetted investments are not immune to risk. In a recent case a major institutional lender was defrauded of US$500 million through falsified financial statements and misleading disclosures, despite initial due diligences. Such incidents underscore the urgent need for continuous monitoring and robust risk management systems. The evolving nature of risks demands an ongoing, proactive approach to due diligence to ensure investments remain secure and adaptable to change.

In October 2025, a major fraud case involving approximately US$875 million was uncovered within a firm in India. The incident involved allegations of forged documents and unauthorized loans taken using falsified signatures, violating the terms of a prior exit agreement between former partners. This illustrates the risks associated with entering business partnerships without thorough due diligence. Before formalising any agreement, it is essential to evaluate a potential partner’s financial stability, business practices, and legal standing.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed 353 penalties amounting to USD 6.23 million in the last fiscal year, for non-compliance with statutory provisions. This sharp increase highlights the growing need for organizations to manage compliance more effectively. The Three Lines of Defence (3LoD) model offers a structured approach by clearly defining roles across operational management, compliance, and internal audit. When tailored to an organization’s specific risk environment and supported by regular training, the model helps build stronger governance, reduce risk, and stay prepared for regulatory challenges.

Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) present unique risks for businesses due to their potential involvement in financial misconduct. Effective PEP screening is essential to safeguard compliance and protect business integrity.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported 23,953 fraud cases amounting to over USD 4 billion in FY 2024-25, a sharp increase from USD 1.39 billion the previous year, despite a decline in the number of cases. Digital transaction frauds, primarily involving card and internet-based payments, were the most frequently reported. These often involve unauthorized access to customer data by third parties, but they can also be committed by the customers themselves.

In the first ten months of FY25, digital financial frauds in India surged to USD 482.5 million across 2.4 million incidents, as reported by the Ministry of Finance. This marks a 67% increase from FY23, reflecting the growing scale of financial crime.