Pune News: 25 Year Old Arrested For Cheating 600 People Of ₹22.41 Lakh On Pretext Of Allocating MHADA Flats
Pune News: 25 Year Old Arrested For Cheating 600 People Of ₹22.41 Lakh On Pretext Of Allocating MHADA Flats
Pune, January 28, 2025: A 25-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly defrauding 600 individuals of ₹22.41 lakh by falsely promising them housing allocations through the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). The accused, identified as Pratik Rajesh Dhainje, is a former contractual worker with the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
Police revealed that Pratik, a resident of Bhosari, deceived victims by claiming to have connections within MHADA. He charged ₹15,000 per application and assured them that once their names appeared on the MHADA lottery list, an additional ₹2 lakh would be required. Using counterfeit MHADA letterheads and forged documents bearing the names of senior MHADA officials, Pratik convinced victims of the scheme’s authenticity.
The victims paid him the application fees, expecting a legitimate allotment. To maintain the facade, Pratik repeatedly provided false updates about lottery results, list publications, and delays, buying time and avoiding suspicion.
Acting on complaints received at the Bhosari Police Station, the Crime Branch Unit-1 of Pimpri-Chinchwad launched an investigation led by Senior Inspector Suhas Avhad. Authorities tracked down Pratik, who later admitted to orchestrating the scam.
Police confirmed that Pratik had studied up to grade 12 and previously worked as a contractual employee in the water supply department of the PCMC. The investigation revealed that he exploited his former municipal corporation connections to lend credibility to his claims.
The Bhosari Police are continuing their investigation to identify additional victims and recover funds. Authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution and verify official processes to avoid falling prey to such fraudulent schemes.
