A sensational real-estate fraud that allegedly thrived on forged Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) papers, fake government seals, and a fabricated Intelligence Bureau (IB) identity has taken a crucial turn, with the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arresting Prabhakar Shetty from Karnataka’s Udupi district. Shetty, believed to be a close aide of the alleged mastermind, the late Rupesh Prabhakar Chaudhary, has been remanded to police custody until December 12, police said on Tuesday. According to the investigators, Shetty allegedly handled portions of the cash and gold collected from multiple investors who were promised MHADA flats in premium South Mumbai and central suburbs. His arrest, officers said, is expected to help map the money trail in what has emerged as one of the more audacious housing scams in recent years. The FIR, lodged at Dindoshi Police Station by businessman Mohammad Aslam Qureshi (45), states that Chaudhary had allegedly projected himself as a senior IB officer with access to government housing quotas. To reinforce this identity, he allegedly circulated forged MHADA allotment letters, fake GRAS challans, and counterfeit correspondence bearing senior officials’ names. Investors were shown these documents and allegedly assured that their flats were "in process". Police sources said Chaudhary maintained a carefully crafted facade—travelling with armed bodyguards, using beacon-fitted vehicles, and mingling with IAS and police officers at social gatherings. One such lavish birthday celebration, attended by bureaucrats and television actors, allegedly helped him attract new investors. Qureshi and others allegedly handed over more than Rs 17 crore between 2023 and 2025, expecting registration on 18 July 2025. Instead, they learnt that Chaudhary had died of a heart attack in Nashik earlier that day. It was during the funeral, Qureshi claimed, that he realised Chaudhary was never an IB officer. An officer said that it had already been established earlier that the documents given to the complainants by the accused were forged. Officers said Shetty’s custodial interrogation will focus on tracing the cash flow, gold deposits, and digital communications linked to the alleged conspiracy. "All allegations are subject to verification. The financial audit and document examination will determine individual roles," an officer said.
09 December,2025 09:14 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilThe North Cyber Police in Mumbai have registered a case where a Kandivali-based senior citizen was allegedly cheated of Rs 26.20 lakh after cyber fraudsters threatened him with ‘digital arrest’, claiming that 187 SIM cards registered in his name were being used for human trafficking and abusing women. Posing as officials from the Supreme Court, Telangana Police, and Bengaluru Cyber Coordination Unit, they allegedly told the complainant that a case had been filed against him under the Official Secrets Act, which could result in a 10-year imprisonment and put him under ‘digital arrest’. According to the police, the incident took place in November while the complainant was travelling to Nashik with his wife. He received a call from a man claiming to be a Bengaluru Cyber Police officer and was told that 187 SIM cards under his name were involved in human trafficking and verbal abuse. The caller further claimed that these SIM cards were recovered during a raid in Telangana and Rs 30 lakh had been deposited into his bank account. Soon after, he received a WhatsApp message stating that a police case had been filed and he would be barred from performing any activities. Frightened, the senior citizen returned to Mumbai, where another caller informed him about a non-bailable warrant. A woman posing as a police officer conducted a video call with him, obtained his bank details, and instructed him to send 50 signatures on blank paper. Under pressure, the victim transferred money to the account given by the fraudsters. "After the transaction, the accused stopped responding. Realising he had been duped, the complainant approached the North Region Cyber Police and filed a complaint. An FIR (first information report) has been registered, and we initiated further investigation,” said an officer. The Cyber Police have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify such calls, adding that no agency asks for signatures or orders a digital arrest.
09 December,2025 07:43 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanIn a shocking case of an alleged attempted sexual assault inside a moving auto-rickshaw in Mumbai, a teenager college student suffered serious injuries after she jumped out of the speeding vehicle to escape molestation, officials said. The incident took place near Malad area of suburban Mumbai when the girl was travelling to Orlem on Monday evening, they said. According to police, the victim was seated in the corner seat when the driver asked her to shift to the middle. He then allegedly began making vulgar gestures through the rear-view mirror. Moments later, he pulled the side curtain and forcefully touched her inappropriately while the auto was still in motion. Terrified, the girl leapt out of the moving auto-rickshaw. Luckily, no vehicle was behind at that moment, but the fall left her with a fractured arm and multiple injuries. The driver later fled the spot with the vehicle. The victim informed her family and relatives following the incident and she was shifted to a nearby hospital. Based on the victim complaint a case under relevant sections of BNS was registered on Monday evening, said an official. "Considering the seriousness of the matter, under the guidance of DCP Sandeep Jadhav Zone 11, ACP Parkash Bagal, Goregaon Division and Senior Inspector Dushyant Chauhan began the investigation after forming a team led by API Deepak Raiwade, along PSI Tushar Sukhdev along with their detection staff and tracked down the accused in the case. He was later placed under arrest," said a police official.
09 December,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a criminal case against Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd. (RCFL), a company of the Reliance ADA Group, in connection with a bank fraud worth Rs 57.47 crore. The case names the company’s promoters, directors, and unknown bank officials, an official statement said. The action follows a complaint filed by the Bank of Maharashtra, which alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, and misconduct that resulted in a wrongful loss to the bank. According to the complaint, RCFL’s loan account was declared a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) on March 25, 2020 and later classified as fraud on October 4, 2025. Investigators stated that RCFL had taken loans amounting to Rs 9,280 crore from a group of 31 banks, financial institutions, NBFCs, and corporate bodies, including the Bank of Maharashtra. The CBI will now conduct a detailed investigation into allegations of fraud against all these lenders. On December 9, 2025, after securing court-approved search warrants, CBI teams carried out searches at the company’s Mumbai office and at the Pune residence of Devang Pravin Mody, a Director of RCFL. Officials reported that they found several incriminating documents, which are now being seized as part of the investigation.
09 December,2025 05:48 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilThe Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out searches at the Mumbai residence of Jai Anmol Ambani, son of industrialist Anil Ambani, after registering an FIR against him and Reliance Home Finance Ltd. (RHFL) for allegedly cheating Union Bank of India of Rs 228 crore, an official statement said on Tuesday. The case stems from a complaint filed by Union Bank of India (formerly Andhra Bank) against Reliance Home Finance Ltd., then director Jai Anmol Ambani, and former CEO Ravindra Sharad Sudhakar, alleging that the company failed to repay credit facilities, leading the bank to classify the account as a non-performing asset (NPA) in 2019, it said. In a statement, the CBI said that the agency obtained search warrants from the Special Judge for CBI cases in Mumbai and began searches on December 9, 2025 at two official premises of Reliance Home Finance Ltd., the residential premises of Jai Anmol Ambani, and the residence of Ravindra Sudhalkar, the former CEO and Whole-Time Director of RHFL. According to the complaint, Reliance Home Finance Ltd. had availed loans amounting to Rs 5,572.35 crore from 18 banks, financial institutions, NBFCs and corporate bodies, including Union Bank. The CBI said a detailed investigation will be carried out to look into allegations of fraud against all lenders involved. The agency obtained search warrants from the Special CBI Court in Mumbai and began searches on 9 December 2025 at two official premises of Reliance Home Finance Ltd., as well as the residences of Jai Anmol Ambani, son of Anil Ambani and former director of the company, and Ravindra Sudhalkar, former CEO and whole-time director. Both properties are located in Mumbai. The CBI said several incriminating documents have been found and seized during the searches, which are still underway. Reliance Home Finance Ltd. or Jai Anmol Ambani were yet to issue an official statement in the matter.
09 December,2025 04:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilThe Mumbai police have registered a case against two persons for allegedly duping a businessman of Rs 33.5 lakh on the pretext of securing admission for his daughter in a medical college in Chennai, an official said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. Based on a complaint, a first information report (FIR) has been registered against Rocky Savio and Stephen Duxter, both residents of Chennai, the official said, reported PTI. According to the FIR, the complainant's daughter appeared for her Class 12 board exams three years ago, and gave the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in July 2022, but was unable to secure admission at any medical college in Maharashtra due to her poor scores, reported PTI. The complainant came in contact with the accused through his relatives and sought their help. The duo allegedly informed him that the admission process would cost Rs 33.5 lakh, and he transferred the amount to them, the official said, reported PTI. However, despite the long wait, the girl hadn't secured admission, and the accused continued to give evasive replies, he said. Following a probe, the police registered a case of cheating, but no arrests have been made, the official said. Thane jeweller duped of Rs 70 lakh; 3 booked In another case, the police have registered a case against a couple and another person for allegedly cheating a jeweller in Maharashtra's Thane district of Rs 70 lakh, officials said on Monday, reported PTI. The accused gained the trust of the jeweller, from Golawli in Dombivli, by making timely payments on earlier purchases. However, in October, they bought gold ornaments, collectively valued at nearly Rs 70 lakh, on three occasions, an official from Manpada police station said, reported PTI. The accused promised to clear the dues later, but did not make the payment. Upon further insistence, they abused and threatened the jeweller, the police said. Following the jeweller's complaint, the police on December 5 registered a case against the three accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating), 314 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 352 (intentional insult), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention), the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
09 December,2025 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 49-year-old Bhandup-based business consultant was allegedly cheated of Rs 7.10 lakh after being lured into a fraudulent WhatsApp trading scheme called the ‘Aishwarya Plan’, which promised over 100 per cent returns with zero brokerage. The victim, an active online trader, was first contacted on October 28 by a woman who claimed to represent a reputed brokerage. He was added to a WhatsApp group and asked to download a fake trading app that showed dummy profits to build his confidence. Between November 7 and November 25, he was repeatedly asked to “recharge” his trading account by transferring money to multiple third-party bank accounts for share trading and a fake IPO allotment. In total, he transferred Rs 7.10 lakh to at least five different accounts under various firm names. To strengthen credibility, the fraudsters initially allowed him to withdraw Rs 15,920. However, his request for a larger withdrawal was blocked, citing a low in-app “credit score”. The FIR names nine accused, identified through different mobile numbers and bank accounts. The victim later filed a complaint with the Kanjurmarg police and approached the 1930 cyber helpline. Red flags for investors >> Guaranteed high returns>> Trading through WhatsApp groups>> Requests to recharge funds>> Multiple third-party bank accounts>> Easy profits shown, big withdrawals blocked>> Pressure to invest in exclusive IPOs Check SEBI’s guidelines >> The ‘Aishwarya Plan’ is not SEBI-registered.>> Police say the name was only used to make the scheme appear premium.>> SEBI warns against WhatsApp tips, guaranteed returns, or unregistered apps.>> Verify brokers only through SEBI’s official website. Where to complain National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930Website: cybercrime.gov.in Oct 28Day victim first came in contact with scamsters
09 December,2025 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe police on Monday opposed the bail plea of former Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Chetan Singh Chaudhary, who is accused of shooting dead his senior colleague and three passengers on a moving train in July 2023, reported the PTI. The prosecution told the court that the case is extremely serious and could attract the death penalty, making bail inappropriate at this stage. In a written response filed by Additional Public Prosecutor Sudhir Sapkale, the police said that key witnesses were currently being examined and that there was already substantial evidence on record against Chaudhary. Granting bail now, they argued, would seriously harm the prosecution’s case, according to the PTI. Chaudhary is accused of killing Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena and three passengers on board the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express near Palghar on July 31, 2023. In his bail application, filed through advocates Amit Mishra and Pankaj Ghildiyal, Chaudhary claimed he was suffering from "white matter disease", a condition that affects the brain’s white matter, as per the PTI. His lawyers argued he experiences severe mental episodes, delusions and confusion, and therefore had no awareness of his actions at the time of the incident. The prosecution, however, dismissed his health claims, saying they were not convincing and could not be considered at this stage. Meanwhile, the wife of one of the victims sought the court’s permission to be heard during the bail hearing. Her intervention plea, filed through advocates Karim Pathan and Fazlurrahman Shaikh, said there was direct evidence against Chaudhary, including eyewitness accounts and recovery of the weapon and cartridges. She argued that granting bail would allow the accused to tamper with evidence, the news agency reported. On Monday, an RPF constable who helped arrest Chaudhary testified in court. He told the judge that when he first saw Chaudhary walking on the tracks between Mira Road and Dahisar, the accused threatened to shoot him, reported the PTI. The witness said he confronted Chaudhary, asking why he had left the train, but received no reply. Instead, Chaudhary "stared at me and said, ‘Don’t come in my way or follow me, otherwise I will shoot you.’" Fearing for his life, the constable stepped aside but continued to follow him from a distance. Chaudhary was later caught on a foot-over bridge at Mira Road station, as per the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
08 December,2025 09:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police on Monday said that it has launched probe into the complaint received against threat to actor and politician Pawan Singh allegedly by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police officials on Monday evening confirmed that an official written complaint was received by the police and the matter was being probed. "An application is received in the police station and appropriate action will be taken after inquiry," said a senior police officer. According to sources, an official police complaint was filed by Pawan Singh's manager at Oshiwara Police station in suburban Mumbai. Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh's manager approached the Mumbai Police after allegedly receiving extortion and threat calls from an individual claiming to be linked to the Bishnoi gang. The complaint states that the caller reportedly demanded money and warned Singh not to share the stage with Salman Khan at the Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale. According to the complaint, the threats were made through multiple phone numbers and a member of Singh’s team also received similar messages. The threats reportedly surfaced shortly after Singh announced on Instagram that he would be performing with Salman Khan on the show. Police officials said that they were currently working to identify the source of the threat calls. Multiple teams have been formed to verify the threats to Singh. The controversy erupted just a day after Pawan Singh announced that he would be sharing the stage with Salman Khan for the Bigg Boss 19 finale on social media. He took to his Instagram handle and wrote, "Bhaijaan ke saath Bigg Boss 19 ke Grand Finale mein humare saath judenge Powerstar Pawan Singh." On the show, the Bhojpuri singer performed alongside Salman Khan and former contestant Neelam Giri. The unknown individuals reportedly demanded money from Pawan Singh and even sent threats using multiple phone numbers, with connections traced from Bihar to Mumbai. Members of Singh's team and those managing his work also received similar threatening messages. Pawan Singh reportedly received phone calls, warning him not to share the stage with Bollywood actor Salman. The caller allegedly threatened "serious consequences" if Pawan Singh proceeded with his scheduled performance.
08 December,2025 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentPolice have registered a case against a couple and another person for allegedly cheating a jeweller in Maharashtra's Thane district of Rs 70 lakh, officials said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The accused gained the trust of the jeweller, from Golawli in Dombivli, by making timely payments on earlier purchases. However, in October, they bought gold ornaments, collectively valued at nearly Rs 70 lakh, on three occasions, an official from Manpada police station said, reported PTI. The accused promised to clear the dues later, but did not make the payment. Upon further insistence, they abused and threatened the jeweller, the police said, reported PTI. Following the jeweller's complaint, the police on December 5 registered a case against the three accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 318(4) (cheating), 314 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 352 (intentional insult), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention), the official said. BEST conductor duped of Rs 4.5 lakh with promise of CRPF job In another case, a 36-year-old conductor with the civic-run BEST bus service was allegedly cheated of Rs 4.5 lakh by three men who promised to get him a job with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), police said on Saturday, reported PTI. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Sarfaraz Salmani, Nilesh Sarode and Yogesh Kumar Shukla on Friday on a complaint filed by Mahesh Devkar, a resident of Navi Mumbai, said an official of Chunabhatti police station, reported PTI. No arrest has been made in the case yet. In 2022, a friend introduced him to Sarode who claimed to have contacts that could help him secure a government job, Devkar said in the complaint, reported PTI. Soon, he was told that there vacancies of havildar's post in CRPF, he said. Sarode introduced him to Salmani who claimed he handled government job processing and allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh as "fee", reported PTI. A few days later, Salmani called Devkar to Delhi for a medical examination at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was introduced to Yogesh Kumar, reported PTI. The trio then allegedly handed over a fake CRPF appointment letter to him and demanded another Rs 3 lakh. Under pressure, Devkar paid another Rs 3.5 lakh in instalments. He was also issued a bogus training letter, reported PTI. But when he stopped receiving updates, he tried contacting the accused who did not respond. When he demanded a refund, he was given a cheque of Rs 50,000 which bounced. Devkar then found out that all the documents, including appointment and training letters, were fake, and lodged a police complaint, reported PTI. An FIR was registered against Salmani, Nilesh Sarode and Yogesh Kumar Shukla for cheating and forgery, and further investigation was underway, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
08 December,2025 11:17 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 40-year-old constable for allegedly raping a woman in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The alleged incident occurred last week at the Kasa police station, a senior official from Palghar rural police said. The woman had gone there to record her statement in connection with a case. The constable allegedly raped her in the premises, he said, reported PTI. Based on the woman's complaint, the police registered a case against the constable on charges of rape and arrested him on Sunday, the official said, reported PTI. The Kasa police station in-charge has been transferred, he added. Liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh seized in Palghar; one held In another case, the police have seized liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh transported illegally from Daman and arrested one person in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Friday, reported PTI. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Manor police station intercepted a tempo on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh said, reported PTI. The team found Daman-manufactured liquor worth Rs 10.17 lakh, banned in Maharashtra, he said. "A detailed inquiry revealed that the consignment had been loaded by one Amit Kumar Shukla Pandit, Gorab Gosale Monu, and Suraj Chaubey, whose full details are yet to be confirmed. The accused had instructed the driver, Kishore Bhika Baviskar, to deliver the goods to Dhule," he said, reported PTI. A case has been registered at Manor police station under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, and the driver has been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused, the official said. Nigerian national held with Rs 51 lakh drugs in Palghar Meanwhile, the police have seized the banned mephedrone drug valued at Rs 51 lakh from a Nigerian national in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Thursday, reported PTI. Based on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid on Tuesday at Pragati Nagar in the Nalasopara area. They apprehended Uba alias Noso Uba Chinoso Wisdom (30), a Nigerian national residing in the locality, and seized 255 gm of mephedrone (MD) valued at Rs 51,10,000 from his possession, a police release said, reported PTI. The accused was arrested and booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the police added. (With inputs from PTI)
08 December,2025 11:07 AM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
