Satara: A shocking case of marriage fraud has come to light in the state of Maharashtra, where a woman allegedly married several men and fled with cash and jewellery within days.

The accused, identified as Bhanupriya Bhaurao Bansod from Yavatmal district, is said to have cheated multiple grooms across different regions. She has created a sort of fear among families.

According to available details, Bansod married at least five to six men over a period of time. In each case, she reportedly stayed at her husband’s house for a few days to gain trust. Soon after, she escaped early in the morning, taking valuables from the house.

Victims claim they were left with no way to trace her, as the addresses and details provided were either fake or no longer valid. Police said that the woman gaslighted and manipulated men who were desperate to marry.

The case has raised concerns, especially in rural areas where marriages are often arranged through agents these days due to a lack of suitable matches.

Police sources suspect that such incidents are not isolated. Similar frauds have been reported from districts like Yavatmal, Beed, Latur, and Jalna, pointing towards the involvement of organised gangs.

In many cases, families pay large sums to agents to arrange marriages. However, the bride disappears soon after, leaving the groom and his family cheated out of it.

Victims often hesitate to file complaints, as the accused allegedly threatens to file false cases of harassment or assault against them.

One victim said he married Bansod, and she stayed at his home for eight days before fleeing with cash and jewellery. Later, he discovered she had married multiple times earlier.

There is now a growing demand for strict police action against such frauds. Authorities have urged people to verify backgrounds properly before marriage and avoid trusting agents without proper checks.

Mumbai: At least 10 auto rickshaws were gutted in a fire that broke out under the bridge at Chedda Nagar in Ghatkopar East on Wednesday afternoon.

Officials from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) quickly took charge and brought the blaze under control within an hour. Although traffic in the area was disrupted for some time, fire officials confirmed that, fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Several rickshaws parked under the bridge on the Eastern Express Highway at Ghatkopar East caught fire on Wednesday around 12:30 pm, creating panic in the area. The blaze reportedly started in a safety net and quickly spread to the vehicles.

Local residents alerted the MFB, which rushed to the spot along with local police. “By the time we arrived, some vehicles had been moved by locals, but 10 rickshaws were ablaze,” fire officials said.

Eyewitnesses reported that a few drug addicts who reportedly reside under the bridge were missing at the time of the incident. “Preliminary investigations indicate that cigarette butts dropped by them may have ignited the green safety net lying beneath the bridge, which rapidly spread to the parked rickshaws,” the official added.

Fire engines positioned on the road to control the blaze caused traffic congestion in the area for nearly an hour. The fire was successfully extinguished by 1:34 pm, and officials confirmed that no injuries or casualties occurred.

Mumbai: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into fake call-centre fraud has unearthed an alleged nexus between two senior Maharashtra police officers and a pool of more than 10 shell entities allegedly used to route and layer proceeds of international cyber fraud operations. Investigators are examining what they describe as a structured financial network designed to legitimise illicit funds generated through fake call-centre activities operating from Igatpuri and other parts of Maharashtra.

According to officials familiar with the investigation, an Inspector General of Police (IGP)-rank officer is under intense scrutiny in the said probe.The officer’s name had earlier surfaced in connection with the Ashok Kharat case too, where he was identified as allegedly providing protection to the self-styled godman to shield him from legal action.

In the Igatpuri fake call-centre case, the officer is being probed for allegedly extending protection arrangements extended to illegal call-centre operations. Officials said that he is believed to be among the alleged beneficiaries of proceeds generated through international cyber fraud networks

A serving police commissioner posted in another district is also being examined for alleged links to the same network.

Investigation findings indicate that the IG-rank officer and his associate police commissioner are allegedly connected to more than 10 shell entities, including Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and private companies. While these firms are registered across sectors such as real estate, hospitality, and consultancy, officials said many appear to have no legitimate commercial activity. According to the officials they were created primarily to “clean” illicit cash generated through illegal operations of the fake call center.Officials further suspect that the Shell firms network may also have been used by the senior police officials for proceeds linked to extortion, political liaisoning, case settlements, and collection of protection money (“hafta”)

When confronted, the IG-rank officer admitted to setting up companies in the names of family members but claimed the ventures “did not work out.” However, when confronted with documents related to the shell firms, including alleged fake addresses and high turnover figures, the officer declined to comment further, stating he would consult legal counsel. He stated that he had not yet received formal summons from the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Officials said the shell entities are linked to family members of the senior police officer, including his wife, daughter, and son, as well as close associates. Some individuals from bureaucratic and politically influential families are also alleged to be listed as partners in certain shell firms. Officials said the agency is also analysing the operational mechanisms of the networks, including the manner in which collections were coordinated and funds were transferred across the state.

A detailed review of corporate filings has reportedly revealed a complex and interlinked network of firms, most of which were incorporated over the past four years.

According to agency sources, the entities being examined include firms providing financial consultancy, real estate & infra, hospitality, retail, fuel and chemicals.

A detailed analysis of the Registrar of Companies (RoC) records indicated the repeated appearance of a small cluster of designated partners across multiple firms operating in diverse sectors. While these entities claim to function in distinct industries, investigators have flagged several ‘red flag’ indicators, including overlapping ownership patterns, shared registered addresses, and interconnected corporate structures.

Officials said the preference for the LLP structure is a key aspect under examination. LLPs offer flexibility in capital contribution, profit-sharing, and disclosure requirements compared to traditional private companies.Investigators believe these features may have been leveraged to facilitate the movement and layering of funds across multiple sector-specific corporate vehicles, while maintaining a fragmented corporate trail.

CBI sources said the probe is gaining momentum, with investigators closely tracking financial records, corporate filings, and transaction trails to map the scale and structure of the suspected network.While no formal charges have been filed so far, the allegations remain under detailed examination.