Pune: Man Arrested After Allegedly Posing as PMC Deputy Commissioner’s Relative to Cheat Citizen
Pune: Man Arrested After Allegedly Posing as PMC Deputy Commissioner's Relative to Cheat Citizen
Pune, July 18, 2026: A man has been arrested for allegedly posing as a close relative of a senior Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) official and cheating a citizen of ₹6 lakh by falsely promising to reduce pending property tax dues.
The accused, identified as Virendra Pawar, was apprehended inside the PMC headquarters following a trap laid by the corporation’s security department. Police have registered a case of cheating at Shivajinagar Police Station, and further investigations are underway.
According to PMC officials, Pawar had been frequently visiting the civic headquarters over the past few days, allegedly introducing himself as a close relative of PMC Deputy Commissioner Ravi Pawar. Investigators said he used the senior official’s name to gain the confidence of citizens visiting the corporation for civic services.
Police said a property owner, identified as Dishant Tate, was allegedly approached by the accused, who claimed he could use his influence to substantially reduce the complainant’s outstanding property tax dues. Believing the assurance, the complainant allegedly paid ₹6 lakh to the accused.
When the promised work was not completed despite repeated follow-ups, the complainant approached PMC officials directly and discovered that he had allegedly been cheated.
Following the complaint, PMC’s Security Department initiated an internal operation. Under the supervision of Security Officer Santosh Naik, a trap was laid inside the civic headquarters. On Thursday evening, when the accused entered the PMC building, security personnel intercepted and detained him before handing him over to the Shivajinagar Police.
Based on a complaint filed by Santosh Naik, police registered an FIR under relevant provisions related to cheating. Investigators are now examining whether the accused targeted other citizens using the same modus operandi.
Preliminary information indicates that the accused is the son of a former senior officer from the Revenue Department, though police have not suggested any involvement of his family members in the alleged offence.
PMC has appealed to citizens not to rely on brokers or individuals claiming personal connections with civic officials. The administration has advised residents to approach the concerned municipal departments directly for all official work and avoid making payments to unauthorized intermediaries.
