Pune: Private University Loses ₹2.46 Crore In Cyber Fraud As Imposter Posing As IIT-B Professor Promises DRDO Projects
Pune: Private University Loses ₹2.46 Crore In Cyber Fraud As Imposter Posing As IIT-B Professor Promises DRDO Projects
Pune, September 12, 2025: A well-known private university in Pune was duped of ₹2.46 crore after cyber fraudsters impersonated an Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) professor and lured the institution with fake Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) research projects.
According to the FIR lodged on September 6 by the university’s Chief Education Officer, the fraud occurred between July 25 and August 26. The suspects convinced the university administration to transfer funds in three installments to different accounts, under the pretext of paying “participation fees” for central government–funded research projects.
The fraud began when the complainant received a message from a person claiming to be a prominent educationist and former Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University. This individual introduced the complainant to someone claiming to be an IIT-B professor, who offered details of a ₹28 crore drone research project allegedly sanctioned by the DRDO. The impersonator demanded an upfront payment of 2% of the project cost, amounting to ₹56 lakh.
After internal discussions, the university transferred the amount. Over the following weeks, the fraudsters proposed two more projects worth ₹23 crore and ₹72 crore, demanding 2% fees of ₹46 lakh and ₹1.44 crore, respectively. Believing the offers to be genuine, the university transferred the money.
In late August, the so-called professor promised to visit the campus to sign MoUs. However, all communication ceased on August 26. When the university verified the details with IIT-B, they discovered the professor’s identity had been misused, and no such projects existed.
The university immediately approached the cyber crime police station, which has since launched an investigation into the bank accounts and communication channels used by the fraudsters.
A probe is underway to trace the culprits.
