Film producer arrested in Erandwane for providing mule account to facilitate online share-trading fraud
2
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police on Sunday arrested a 34-year-old film producer from Erandwane in connection with an online share-trading fraud, in which a software engineer had lost Rs57.7 lakh to cybercrooks between Feb and May this year.
Police investigations revealed that the accused, Shivam Sanvatsarkar, gave his bank account to a China-based handler to use as a mule bank account for some commission.
The Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police team, led by senior police inspector Ravikiran Nale, took Sanvatsarkar into custody with the help of the Deccan Gymkhana police.
You Can Also Check:
Pune AQI
|
Weather in Pune
|
Bank Holidays in Pune
|
Public Holidays in Pune
In this case, the software engineer came in contact with the crooks through a video-sharing app earlier this year.
They promised him good returns on his investments in stocks through them and made him download an app to monitor his profits.
The techie invested Rs57.70 lakh and could see in the app that he had purportedly earned a profit of Rs5.15 crore. When he tried to withdraw his money, the crooks demanded an additional amount to clear the funds, making him suspicious. He then approached the Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police and lodged a complaint.
Assistant police inspector Pravin Swami of the Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police told TOI that during investigations, it was found that some amount stolen in the fraud was transferred to a firm's bank account in Pune. "Police sub-inspector Sagar Poman and team traced the account holder, Sanvatsarkar, to Erandwane and took him into custody," said Swami.
The officer said Sanvatsarkar has produced a few Marathi films. Initially, he denied his involvement in any fraud. "During sustained questioning, he admitted to providing his bank account to a crook from China. Sanvatsarkar got this idea from his friend, who earned a commission by giving his bank account as a mule account," said Swami.
The accused came in contact with his handler from China through a social media platform. "He was preparing to give two more mule bank accounts to his handler. We took him into custody before he could do this," the API said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
HC refuses to quash FIR against Pune teacher over Op Sindoor linked remarks
The Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to quash the first information report (FIR) registered against 46-year-old Farah Deeba, a Pune-based former teacher, for allegedly ridiculing India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the WhatsApp group of her housing society following Operation Sindoor. her neighbour told the police in a complaint. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) Deeba's reference to India as 'makkar' (deceitful) and her connection with Pakistan through her parents' families who resided there revealed the mens rea (guilty mind) behind her alleged crime, the division bench of justices AS Gadkari and Rajesh Patil said while dismissing her petition. Deeba, a resident of Margosa Heights housing society in Pune's Mohammadwadi neighbourhood, worked as a school teacher. After the Indian armed forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, targeting alleged terror camps in Pakistan, her housing society's WhatsApp group was abuzz with congratulatory messages for the armed forces and the central government. Deeba responded to these messages by posting a laughing emoji, followed by a video ridiculing Narendra Modi. She referred to India as 'makkar' and posted a burning Indian flag as her WhatsApp status, her neighbour told the police in a complaint. Based on the neighbour's complaint, an FIR was registered against Deeba at the Kalepadal police station in Pune under sections 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), 196 (promoting enmity between different groups), 197 (making imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Deeba then approached the high court for quashing the FIR, contending that she was not in a mentally sound condition at the time as the families of both her parents were from Pakistan. As soon as she realised that a few members on the WhatsApp group were offended by her messages, she immediately deleted them and apologised to the complainant, she said in her plea. She also lost her job as a teacher due to the controversy generated by the case against her, she mentioned. Additional public prosecutor MM Deshmukh opposed the petition, saying prima facie, there was enough material to make out the alleged offences and the investigation needed to be completed and taken to its logical end. The court accepted the prosecutor's contentions, saying the petitioner, being well-educated with a masters in English and a BEd degree, should have thought about the pros and cons of her actions before posting the videos and messages. 'Though the petitioner tendered her apology to the complainant, damage had already been caused by the petitioner's messages which were circulated,' the judges said. Her acts attracted the sections she was booked under while her reference India as 'makkar' and her admission about her parents' families hailing from Pakistan were indicative of her guilty mind, the court noted, dismissing her plea.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Cattle trade boycott over gaurakshaks' harassment hits farmers, meat exporters across Maharashtra
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A statewide boycott of cattle trading by the Qureshi community, protesting continued harassment by self-styled 'gaurakshaks', has begun to affect rural economies, meat export operations, and the hospitality sector across the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Qureshi community, which leads the livestock trade and meat processing industry in Maharashtra, has stopped all buying and selling of cattle, alleging unchecked vigilantism targeting transporters and traders. The boycott, now into its third week, has left cattle markets deserted, meat processing units running dry, and hotels struggling with supply shortages. "The harassment of our traders by cow vigilante groups has become unbearable. Despite valid documentation and licences, our people are being stopped, attacked, and humiliated," said Haji Arif Chaudhary, the state head of All India Jamiatul Quresh, which on July 15 made a representation to director general of police Rashmi Shukla seeking intervention and implementation of law. Haji Isa Qureshi, another key member of the Jamiat, said, "To date, only our community was blamed and cornered. The moment we stopped purchasing and processing unproductive animals, all related sectors have started feeling the heat. The govt should ensure that the existing laws related to our business are implemented." Officials from the animal husbandry department confirmed the sharp fall in slaughter numbers from all eight export-oriented abattoirs situated across Maharashtra. The authorities from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar said that the situation is no different for Allana Sons and Al Quraish —both known for being into cent per cent export. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Between July 14 and July 20, Al Quraish recorded zero slaughter while Allana reported slaughter of only 734 buffaloes. This contrasts sharply with figures from late June, when Allana processed 9,744 animals in a week and Al Quraish 684. "This is an unprecedented dip. We reached out to these units and were told that the Qureshi community's boycott is directly responsible for this drop," said Dr Nanasaheb Kadam, deputy commissioner, animal husbandry dept told TOI. The ripple effect is also being felt in the agriculture sector, where farmers typically sell unproductive cattle during the monsoon to finance sowing. "With no buyers, our animals are unsold and we are short of cash. The boycott has left us stranded. The govt should bring a check on the vigilantes," said Laxman Bapurao Sashe from Ghodegaon-based animal market, considered to be one of the largest markets in the state. Meat exporters warn that the halt in trading is threatening contractual obligations with overseas clients. "We are on the verge of defaulting on our export commitments due to a supply crunch. The govt must step in," said an official from a Malegaon-based export unit. Hotels and restaurants, too, are facing the heat. "Buffalo meat is a major component in many food preparations, especially for bulk catering. The sudden shortage is affecting both pricing and menu planning," said a hotelier from Mumbai. The Qureshi community has stated that the boycott will continue until the state govt takes concrete action against vigilante groups and ensures the safety of livestock transporters.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Harassed by cops & mob for citizenship proof, say Kargil War veteran's kin in Pune
Pune: A Kargil War veteran's family in Chandannagar has alleged harassment by the Pune police and a group of unidentified individuals, who stormed their residence around 11.30pm on July 26, asking them to prove their Indian citizenship. Two other members in the family were veterans of the 1965 and 1971 wars. The family members claimed that all the men were then taken to the Chandannagar police station around midnight. "We were told to wait until 3am and produce documents to prove our citizenship, failing which we were threatened that we would be declared illegal immigrants from Bangladesh or Rohingya," a member of the family told TOI. Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Tuesday told TOI: "The deputy commissioner of police (DCP) for the zone is investigating the matter. If any negligence is found on the part of the police, we will take appropriate action against the personnel involved." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune He said: "Preliminary investigations revealed that the police personnel did not forcibly enter the house. However, there are allegations by the family regarding the issue. The DCP is verifying the claims." DCP (Zone IV) Somay Munde said: "The family was only asked to produce documents after our team visited the spot based on inputs about some Bangladeshi nationals illegally staying in the locality." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Hakimuddin Shaikh (58), who retired as a Naik Havildar from the Indian Army's 269 Engineer Regiment of Corps of Engineers, said: "I served the nation with pride for 16 years, from 1984 to 2000, and even fought the Kargil War in 1999. I am an Indian citizen, and my entire family belongs to this nation just as I do. Then why are we being asked to prove our citizenship? We never imagined something like this would happen to my family. " Hakimuddin lived in Pune until 2013 before moving to their hometown. However, the rest of his family members, including brothers, nephews, and their wives, still live in Pune, and they were all asked to prove their citizenship on the night of July 26. The family, originally from Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh, shifted to Pune in 1960. Hakimuddin's brother, Irshad Shaikh, said: "Not just my brother, but my two uncles, Shaikh Naeemuddin, who retired from the infantry unit of the Indian Army, and Shaikh Mohammad Salim, who was with the Army's Engineering regiment, also served the nation. Both of them fought in the 1965 and 1971 wars for the country." He said: "What shocked us the most was that it wasn't the police leading the group, but a group of 30-40 unidentified men who were demanding that our family members show them documents. The intruders were shouting slogans when a policeman in plain clothes stopped them. A police van was parked at a distance from our house, where a uniformed officer was waiting." Hakimuddin's nephew Naushad Shaikh said: "Even when we produced documents like Aadhaar cards to prove our citizenship, the individuals who were shouting at everyone, including women and children from our family, said the documents were fake. The individuals were behaving like goons, as some of them were even kicking the door, asking women to wake up and show their documents." Nawab Shaikh, another nephew of Hakimuddin, said he was born in Pune and lived in the city all these years. "When such things happen, common people reach out to the police for help. But when the police themselves help a mob, it is difficult to understand who we should go to," he said. Yet another nephew, Shamshad Shaikh, said: "We were called to the police station the day after the incident. After keeping us waiting for over two hours, we were informed that the police inspector is not coming, and that we can leave. Our documents are still with them." He said the family was yet to understand why the police team had come with a mob late at night instead of directly asking them to show documents. DCP Munde said: "Our team visited the spot based on some information and asked them to show their documents. When it was found that they were Indian nationals staying in the city, we allowed them to go. We have a video recording of the police team's visit to the spot. Our team was not accompanied by any third party."
