Pune: The Kharadi police have arrested two fraudsters, Ishwar Gahininaath Budhwant and Swapnil Balasaheb Pawar, for allegedly defrauding 10 individuals of ₹4.16 crore. The victims were searching for land to build homes in Pune’s Wagholi and Kharadi areas when the accused lured them with false promises of selling land.

The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Avinash Kumar Lakshman Kumar Behera. According to the police, Avinash and three other victims, namely Akshay Anandkumar Lalgunkar, Sanjay Govardhan Kade, and Hitesh Ashok Gumbar, were initially duped of ₹1.11 crore. The accused accepted the money through various means, including cash, checks, and RTGS transfers, but failed to deliver the promised land or refund the money.

Fraud Extended to More Victims

Further investigation revealed that the duo used similar methods to defraud six other individuals, extracting ₹3.05 crore from them. The total amount embezzled by the accused stands at ₹4.16 crore.

Threats to Victims

One of the victims, Avinash, reported that when he demanded a refund, Ishwar threatened him, stating, "I will neither give you the money nor the land. Do whatever you want." This threat prompted Avinash to file a police complaint.

Police Action

The arrests were made under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Chavan of Kharadi Police Station. The operation was led by Police Sub-Inspector Rahul Kolpe and his team.

Impact on the Community

The incident has caused unrest in the Wagholi and Kharadi areas, with residents expressing concerns about the possibility of more victims. Police are continuing their investigation to identify additional fraudulent activities by the accused.