Pune Techie Duped Of ₹21 Lakh In Matrimonial Fraud, Given Bag Filled With Toy Currency Notes
Pune Techie Duped Of ₹21 Lakh In Matrimonial Fraud, Given Bag Filled With Toy Currency Notes
Pune, May 13, 2026: A 32-year-old software engineer from Pune allegedly lost ₹21 lakh in a matrimonial fraud case after a man she met through a matrimonial website promised marriage and later handed her a bag filled with toy currency notes instead of real cash.
The incident came to light in the Nanded City area, following which Sinhagad Road Police Station registered a cheating case against the accused, identified as Gorakhnath Gavandkar, a resident of Raigad district.
According to police officials, the woman had connected with the accused through a matrimonial platform, where he allegedly expressed interest in marrying her and gradually gained her trust over several months.
Investigators said the accused later claimed he was facing serious financial difficulties and persuaded the woman to give him ₹21 lakh in cash over a period of time. The fraud reportedly took place between March 2025 and recent weeks.
When the woman repeatedly asked for her money back, the accused allegedly called her to a hotel on Sinhgad Road, claiming he would return the amount. During the meeting, he handed over a black bag and allegedly told her it contained ₹50 lakh in cash. He reportedly instructed her to keep her ₹21 lakh share and transfer the remaining amount back to his account through RTGS before quickly leaving the hotel.
However, after checking the bag, the woman discovered that it contained fake toy currency notes instead of real money. Realising she had been cheated, she approached the police and filed a complaint.
The accused has been arrested and further investigation is underway. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to cheating and fraud.
