Pune, Oct 11: An unknown person posing as an official of the Election Commission of India (ECI) defrauded a 78-year-old Pune resident of Rs 8 lakh, officials said on Sunday.

The victim, Jitendra Kumar Ahuja, is a resident of Pune’s Ghorpadi. He was cheated of Rs 8,00,015.34. A case was registered at the Mundhwa police station on October 10.

According to the police, the accused gained Ahuja’s trust by posing as an ECI official. He told Ahuja that his documents did not match. He then sent Ahuja a link and asked him to fill in his information.

It is alleged that the accused gained access to Ahuja’s mobile phone through the link and defrauded him of over Rs 8 lakh. This incident occurred between October 1 and 3.

The police have registered a case against the unidentified accused under sections 319(2), 318(4), 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.

This is the second such case that came to light on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the police said that a person posing as an official of the Election Commission of India (ECI) cheated an 80-year-old man of Rs five lakh online under the guise of updating his voter card in Pune.

A case regarding this incident has been registered at the Lakshminagar Police Station in Pune.

According to the police, the complainant, Kanjasheri Vaidyanathan Venkatesan (80), is a retired employee of an automotive manufacturing company, residing in the Yerwada area of ​​Pune. The accused called him, claiming to be from the ECI’s office, and stated that he needed to update his voter card.

Subsequently, the accused instructed him to download an APK file. After the file was downloaded, the accused gained access to the victim’s mobile screen, compromised his banking passwords, and fraudulently siphoned off Rs. 5 lakh.

A case has been registered at the Lakshminagar Police Station under Sections 308, 318(4), and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Sections 66(D) and 66(C) of the IT Act.

The full name and address of the accused have not yet been ascertained.

Investigations into both cases are currently underway, and further details are awaited, officials said.

Mumbai, Oct 11: Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi on Sunday criticised the government after being released from detention, contending that the ongoing protests reflect the masses’ “no-confidence motion” against the government, and that he would continue his agitation until CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigns and PM Narendra Modi’s entire cabinet steps down.

Speaking to media, Tushar Gandhi said that first he was taken to D.N. Nagar police station.

Subsequently, he was told that because he was a senior citizen, he would have to be medically examined. He was then taken to Borivali station. He was informed at 6 p.m. on Saturday that he would be released, but his phone was not returned to him. He said the constable accompanying him had his phone, but it was still not handed back. Four officers subsequently took him home in the same vehicle, he added.

Despite his detention and the apprehension of other organisers, people of Mumbai continued to arrive at the August Kranti Maidan, Gandhi said, adding that the public was participating in the movement voluntarily.

He described the protests as a “no-confidence motion” by the people against the government.

Gandhi vowed to organise similar protests across India every week until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the current government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped down. He alleged that the government had resorted to electoral manipulation and said the country and its citizens had never weakened in their defence of democracy.

He also said the movement was being fought for the independence of the police.

Referring to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, Gandhi said: “I would tell Sonam Wangchuk not to make statements but to take to the streets. Our movement will continue until our demands are met.”

Gandhi said the events at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday and the protests in Mumbai demonstrated that ordinary citizens were voluntarily coming out to oppose the government.

He reiterated that the public movement would continue despite the detention of its organisers.

In line with the protests planned for Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, a protest was also planned at Mumbai’s historic August Kranti Maidan to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday.

However, even before the protest could begin, the police implemented strict security measures at August Kranti Maidan and the surrounding areas. Barricades were placed at various locations, and the access roads to the August Kranti Maidan were closed. The police even took into custody all those who came to join the movement.

Pune, Oct 10: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday predicted that the central government would collapse within six months, accusing it of using heavy police deployment and blockades to prevent protesters from reaching Delhi for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Calling the ongoing protests a “people’s rebellion,” he claimed that the Narendra Modi government was in its final days and would fall by March-April next year.

Speaking to reporters, Raut claimed that the central government is terrified of young citizens and peaceful protesters.

CJP chief Abhijit Dipke on Saturday arrived at the Delhi airport, where the police detained him.

Raut predicted a massive political upheaval in the country, claiming that the central administration is breathing its last.

“This government will not survive. Between March and April, the Modi government will take its last breath, and a national government will be established,” he claimed.

He reiterated his earlier remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17 would be his last as Prime Minister. “If Modi doesn’t remain, Amit Shah won’t remain either,” he added.

Targeting the leadership, Raut used a harsh phrase referencing the late actor Nana Patekar’s famous dialogue, stating that a “cockroach” can make a government powerless. He alleged that current leaders are merely “traders” rather than strong statesmen, and traders are quick to panic.

He claimed that the Centre has effectively turned Delhi into Jammu and Kashmir, with around 15,000 vehicles stranded outside the city and trains halted to prevent protesters from reaching the capital.

Accusing the Centre of using extreme suppression tactics reminiscent of the British era, Raut questioned why the government was sealing Delhi and stopping youth from protesting democratically.

“Not even during British rule were such massive blockades seen. Thousands of vehicles are stuck on all sides. By what law are you branding protesting youth as traitors and anti-nationals?” Raut asked.

He urged the Delhi Police not to follow illegal orders issued by the central government, alleging that the current regime relies on voter manipulation and state machinery misuse.