FCC: Money Laundering Allegation - Anishta Rughoo Suspected of Being a Front for Rakesh Gooljaury

FCC: Money Laundering Allegation - Anishta Rughoo is suspected of being a front for Rakesh Gooljaury

Defi Quotidien

June 24, 2025 - 11:20 AM

The former wife of businessman Rakesh Gooljaury asserts that the Paul franchise belongs to her.

Following the issuance of a seizure order targeting several companies linked to Rakesh Gooljaury, the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) is now investigating Diamoda Foods Ltd, a company led by Anishta Rughoo, the ex-wife of the businessman. She is suspected of being a front for her ex-husband, who some consider the "blue-eyed boy" of former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

On June 23, an FCC team conducted a search at the headquarters of Diamoda Foods in Bois-Chéri, Moka. Several boxes containing documents and computer equipment were seized. These items, sealed by the FCC, are suspected of containing financial activity statements related to the company, which operates the luxury pastry and bakery chain Paul.

Following the search, Anishta Rughoo appeared at the FCC headquarters accompanied by lawyer Beeharry Panray. She was questioned and then allowed to leave the same evening.

Suspected of being a front for her ex-husband Rakesh Gooljaury, Anishta Rughoo maintained that the pastry activities under the Paul franchise belong to her. She explained that after her divorce from Rakesh Gooljaury, she obtained the business during the division of assets.

Two mobile phones and two computers were also seized and sent to the FCC Digital Laboratory for analysis.

Since May 19, the FCC has held a seizure order issued by the Supreme Court. This order targets several companies associated with Rakesh Gooljaury, including:

• Diamoda Foods Co Ltd, which operates Paul outlets across the island, including at SSR airport;
• Swarovski jewelry stores through Goldmond Ltd and Wool Mill Co Ltd;
• Pandora stores represented by Mafis Trading Ltd.

This order also concerns the shares held by Neetesha Teelwah in Universal Fusion Foods & Restaurateurs Ltd. The court document prohibits Anishta Rughoo and Neetesha Teelwah, both active in Gooljaury's business network, from transferring, selling, or otherwise disposing of their shares. The FCC suspects these shares were acquired using a toxic loan of Rs 1.5 billion granted by the former MPCB.

As part of this investigation, Rakesh and his brother Prameshwar Gooljaury were arrested by the FCC on February 6 of this year.