Pune: A Chennai-based photographer fell victim to a meticulously planned scam in Pune, losing photography equipment worth ₹12.85 lakh. The scammers posed as clients seeking a pre-wedding photoshoot in Pune and Goa and lured him with the promise of lucrative pay and a hassle-free travel experience.

The incident came to light after the victim, Raghavendra M. Gokul (29), filed a complaint at Bund Garden Police Station. According to the complaint, on January 18, the scammers contacted Raghavendra’s brother, offering ₹3 lakh for a pre-wedding shoot and assuring them that accommodation and travel costs would be covered. To gain their trust, the fraudsters transferred ₹19,000 online as an advance payment.

Following the arrangement, Raghavendra and his brother, Govindaraju, departed from Chennai on the night of January 22 and arrived in Pune early the next morning. Upon arrival, they were directed to a lodge near Pune Station, supposedly arranged by the fraudsters.

The next day, the scammers contacted the brothers and instructed them to visit a client near Corinthians Club in Kondhwa. When they arrived at the location, the fraudsters’ phone number was found to be switched off.

Suspicious of foul play, the brothers returned to the lodge after waiting for an hour, only to discover that their room had been broken into and equipment, including three cameras, lenses, and other accessories, had been stolen.

Upon informing the lodge manager, CCTV footage was reviewed, which showed an individual exiting the room with the stolen items. Further investigation of the Aadhaar card used to book the lodge room revealed that the suspects provided addresses in Nizamabad, Telangana, and Nagpur.

The Bund Garden Police have registered a case against two unidentified individuals, and Sub-Inspector Ganesh Chavan is currently investigating the matter.