Pune, 12 February 2026: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 61-year-old retired senior official from the Serum Institute of India has been duped of ₹6.70 crore under the pretext of drainage line repairs in Pune. The complaint has been registered at the Vishrambaug Police Station.
According to police, the complainant retired as an Additional Director from the Serum Institute. His mother owns a house in Navi Peth, Pune, which is currently rented out. The fraud began when the tenant informed him about a person who had come for a drainage inspection.
The accused, identified as Sandeep Chavan, allegedly posed as a municipal official and proposed installing an independent drainage line for the property. He initially demanded ₹65,000, which the complainant transferred online. Over time, the accused and his associates continued demanding money under various pretexts.
Police investigations revealed that between the initial payment and June 2025, the complainant transferred a total of ₹6,70,37,500.
The accused, including Sandeep Chavan, Aditya Chavan, Jiten Solanki, Sharma, Raut, Mahajan, and others, allegedly impersonated civic officials, bank managers, police officers and even a judge. They repeatedly pressured and threatened the victim, claiming legal action, arrest warrants and official penalties.
They demanded payments for machine deposits, municipal challans, departmental fees and other fabricated charges. At different stages, they also cited false emergencies such as a child’s surgery, a death in the family and court expenses to emotionally manipulate the complainant.
Police said the fraudsters assured the victim that the money would be refunded after procedural formalities. However, they continued extracting funds through intimidation and deception.
Officials noted that such cases of cyber fraud have increased in recent months, with criminals posing as government authorities, police officers and judicial officials to instill fear. Victims often panic due to threats of arrest or legal consequences and end up transferring large sums of money.
Police have registered a case and further investigation is underway. Authorities have urged citizens to verify the identity of officials and avoid transferring money without proper documentation and physical verification.
