Pune’s cybercrime landscape got a new villain exposed on Wednesday: a conman masquerading as an ISRO scientist who swindled a single mother out of Rs 26.5 lakhs under the guise of love and lifelong commitment. The elaborate ruse relied on a bogus profile on a popular matchmaking site, where the fraudster dangled dreams of stability.
Identified as 34-year-old Adarsh Prashant Mhatre, the culprit juggled identities like Swapnil Warule, Hemant Gaykar, and Jayesh Patil to evade detection. From his bases in Alibag, Turbhe, and Rasayani, he targeted vulnerable women, striking gold with this victim by promising to shoulder her daughter’s education costs.
What began as flirty chats evolved into relentless demands for money, framed as temporary loans for ‘urgent needs.’ The woman, ensnared by his charisma, sent funds via digital wallets and bank transfers, totaling a staggering amount. When the promises evaporated, she approached Yerawada police, triggering a high-stakes probe.
Investigators uncovered his footprint in another Navi Mumbai fraud case, leading to his custody transfer and arrest on April 15. Remarkably, Rs 21 lakhs were seized from his accounts, a testament to the Yerawada team’s prowess led by Inspector Vijay Thakur. As digital romance booms, this case serves as a stark warning: verify before you trust. Police are digging deeper for additional complainants.
