GNLU – Panag & Babu Certificate Course on White Collar Crimes

We are delighted to announce the launch of the first edition of the GNLU – Panag & Babu Certificate Course on White Collar Crimes (2025–26). Scheduled from 28th to 30th September 2025 in physical mode at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, this course is designed to provide participants with a strong foundational understanding of the White Collar Crimes practice. Over the span of 18+ hours, leading lawyers from Panag & Babu and academicians from GNLU will guide participants through the entire life cycle of white-collar crime cases. With limited seats available, the course offers unique opportunities, including internships with Panag & Babu, scholarships for the top performers, and merit-cum-need based fee waivers from GNLU.

1st GNLU-Panag & Babu Certificate Course on White Collar Crimes(28–30 September 2025)

Day 1 began with a formal inauguration, bringing together students and experts to explore the evolving field of white collar crimes in India.

The ceremony was graced by Prof. (Dr.) Girish R., Head of Academic Affairs; Mr. Satya Ranjan Mishra, Course Convener; and resource persons, Mr. J.S. Bhullar, Partner at Panag & Babu and Mr. Guneet Gudh, Principal Associate at Panag & Babu along with the traditional lighting of the lamp symbolizing knowledge and wisdom.

The inaugural addresses highlighted the scope of white-collar crimes—from Ponzi schemes and GST violations to insider trading and frauds—and underlined the uniqueness of the course in connecting theory with practice.

𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 1 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝:

• 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 1: Introduction to White Collar Crimes – Mr. J. S. Bhullar provided an overview of the discipline, tracing its origins to Sutherland’s definition, distinguishing white-collar from blue-collar crimes, and exploring concepts like 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢, corporate liability, and emerging areas such as ESG scams and crypto frauds.

• 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 2: White Collar Crimes in Practice – Mr. Satya Ranjan Mishra and Mr. Guneet Gudh led case studies on landmark scams including Satyam, Enron, Harshad Mehta, and the PNB–Gitanjali fraud, illustrating regulatory gaps, auditing failures, and the reforms these crises brought about.

• 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 3 𝐚𝐧𝐝 4: Statutory Framework Governing White-Collar Practice – Mr. Guneet Gudh unpacked provisions under the BNS, BNSS, and BSA, highlighting procedural and evidentiary reforms, while Dr. Jagadeesh Chandra T.G. explained the central role of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in India’s enforcement framework. The day concluded with engaging discussions, setting a strong foundation for the modules ahead. We look forward to Day 2 as we continue delving deeper into the nuances of white-collar crime and its practice.

After an insightful Day 1 that laid the groundwork with discussions on the ambit of white-collar crimes and the statutory framework under the BNS, BNSS, and BSA, Day 2 of the GNLU - Panag & Babu Certificate Course on White Collar Crimes, 2025, delved into the nuanced complexities of statutes, regulatory mechanisms, and practice-oriented challenges in this domain. The sessions were enriched by the expertise of Mr. J.S. Bhullar and Ms. Shruti Raina, Partners at Panag & Babu, who brought valuable practitioner perspectives to the table.

• 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 5: Specific Statutes dealing with White-Collar Crimes – Mr. Bhullar examined the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, focusing on the wide ambit of fraud under Section 447, auditors’ obligations under Section 143(12), and directors’ duties of disclosure. He also discussed the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, highlighting the 2018 amendment that brought both bribe-givers and bribe-takers within its scope, India’s absolute prohibition on facilitation payments, and the growing need for compliance-driven business practices.

• 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 6: White-Collar Crimes in Listed Entities – The spotlight shifted to SEBI’s regulatory vigilance, with Mr. Bhullar highlighting the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, and their role in strengthening transparency, investor trust, and corporate discipline.

• 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 7: Practical Insights: Business & Compliance – Through an interactive case study, participants were guided through investigative strategies, whistleblower engagement, and identifying red flags in corporate practices, illustrating how white-collar crime lawyers act as investigative arms within organizations.

• 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 8: Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) – Ms. Raina, provided an incisive overview of the anti-money laundering regime, the Enforcement Directorate’s wide-ranging powers, and the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence in Vijay Madan Lal Chaudhary v. Union of India, while also engaging participants with case studies. Day 2 was marked by rich discussions, interactive exercises, and practical insights, equipping participants with a deeper understanding of compliance, enforcement, and the evolving landscape of corporate crime. As we look ahead, Day 3 will mark the final day of the course, bringing together the concluding sessions that promise to consolidate learning and provide participants with holistic perspectives on white-collar crime practice in India.

The final day of the GNLU - Panag & Babu Certificate Course on White Collar Crimes concluded with deep insights into the evolving landscape of corporate crime, regulatory enforcement, and professional strategy in white-collar practice.

The day began with the session by Mr. Guneet Gudh, who delivered a comprehensive overview of India’s enforcement architecture—covering the CBI, ED, SEBI, SFIO, IT Department, and state EOWs—while situating them within global frameworks like the FCPA, FEPA, SOX, and the UK Bribery Act. His session highlighted the challenges of cross-border investigations, parallel enforcement, and the compliance burden placed on corporations.

Mr. Sherbir Panag, Managing Partner of Law Offices of Panag & Babu, led a deep dive into the doctrines of corporate culpability, including vicarious liability and piercing the corporate veil, using high-profile case studies like IL&FS and ICICI–Viacom. He emphasized that robust internal investigations—conducted with diligence, candour, and rigorous evidence preservation—serve as a corporation’s first and most critical line of defence.

Mr. Panag also shared career advice, encouraging participants to build a strong foundation by reading law and analyzing case studies to hone their advocacy skills. Quoting Nani Palkhivala and Steve Jobs, he encouraged students to focus on strengthening their fundamentals and the ability to “connect the dots.” Following his session, an evaluation test was conducted to assess the participants' comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.

The course concluded with a valedictory ceremony graced by distinguished guests including Mr. Satya Ranjan Mishra; Dr NITIN MALIK, Registrar, GNLU; and Prof. (Dr.) Girish R., Head of Academic Affairs, GNLU. A significant highlight of the ceremony was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Law Offices of Panag & Babu and GNLU. The MoU formalizes their collaboration, ensuring the continuation of this specialized course for the next three years and reinforcing their joint commitment to excellence in legal education.

Delivering the Valedictory Address, Mr. Panag underlined that public trust is central to India’s growth story. He called for the creation of a central regulatory body to streamline overlapping investigations, stronger whistleblower protections, and the separation of investigation from prosecution to maintain checks and balances.

The Law Offices of Panag & Babu announced that it will provide scholarships and internships to the top five students, with the top three also receiving a cash prize of ₹25,000 each. To ensure accessibility, GNLU had already granted five need-cum-merit-based fee waivers to participants selected via an earlier process of interviews and statements of purpose.

Top Three Selected Students of 1st GNLU – Panag & Babu Certificate Course on White Collar Crimes 2025-2026

We are pleased to announce the top three students of the 1st GNLU – Panag & Babu Certificate Course on White Collar Crimes (2025). This year’s cohort included over 75 students from 23+ universities across India, selected from more than 125 applications.

After three days of intensive sessions and assessments conducted by the partner law firm, the following students have secured the top 3 positions and earned cash prizes along with internship opportunities.

Congratulations to our winners, and our sincere appreciation to every participant for their enthusiasm throughout the course.