Pune , 27 June 2025: A woman from Pune has been cheated of ₹3.6 crore by an international cyber fraudster who posed as an Australian doctor on a matrimonial website. The accused, identified as Dr. Rohit Oberoi alias Abhishek Shukla, was arrested by Pune Cyber Police at Mumbai airport following a lookout notice.
The scam came to light after the woman filed a complaint, revealing a well-planned con involving fake identities and investment promises.
The victim, a Delhi-based woman who had been living in Kharadi, Pune, had earlier received ₹5 crore alimony from her divorce and was planning to invest in children’s welfare initiatives. In 2023, she registered on Shaadi.com for remarriage, where she was contacted by the accused using a fake profile.
Claiming to be a doctor from Australia, he gained her trust, came to India, and stayed with her for some time. Knowing about her financial situation, he convinced her that he could help bring in foreign investment for her business.
The accused introduced her to two fictitious individuals, “Evonne Hendayani” and “Vincent Kuan,” and gradually manipulated her into transferring ₹3.6 crore to various Indian and Singaporean bank accounts. After receiving the money, he returned to Australia and cut off contact. Months later, the woman received an email claiming that “Dr. Rohit” had died, which raised suspicion. She discussed the matter with a friend and soon realized she had been cheated, after which she approached the cyber police.
Investigations revealed that “Dr. Rohit Oberoi” was a fake identity and the man’s real name is Abhishek Shukla, a native of Lucknow who is now an Australian citizen living in Perth with his wife and two children.
A lookout notice was issued against him, and immigration officials alerted Pune police when he landed in Mumbai from Singapore on June 25. He was taken into custody and remanded to police custody until June 29. A team led by Sr. Inspector Swapnali Shinde and several officers executed the arrest.
Further inquiry showed that the accused had contacted 3,194 women through fake matrimonial profiles. Police are investigating if more women have been similarly defrauded. Citizens who interacted with profile number SH-87341231 on Shaadi.com are urged to contact Pune Cyber Police at 7058719371 or 7058719375. Commissioner Pankaj Deshmukh has appealed to the public to be alert and cautious while using matrimonial platforms.
