Crime
Mumbai Fraud News: Malad Police Bust Online Housing Scam, 6 Arrested For Duping Buyers Of Lakhs
The Malad police have cracked a housing scam where fraudsters posted fake property listings on online real estate platforms, duping multiple buyers of lakhs of rupees. Six accused have been arrested, while one remains at large.
Police revealed that all the arrested individuals have prior involvement in similar cheating cases, with FIRs already registered at Dahisar and Kashigaon police stations. The suspects were apprehended last week and are currently in judicial custody.
The case came to light following a complaint by Naval Rajput, 31, a land surveyor from Malad East. For six months in 2025, Rajput had been browsing a popular property buy-and-sell website in search of a home.
Accused Amit Thakur, 30, contacted him claiming to have a flat for sale and directed associates Roshan Yadav and Deepak Shah to show Rajput Flat No. 1301 at Shubharshree Arcade on Jakeria Road in Malad West.
Impressed after viewing the flat, Rajput agreed to buy the property. Deepak Shah later arranged a meeting with the supposed owner, Popatlal Sandesha. Documents were shown and the deal was finalised at Rs1.10 crore.
Rajput paid Rs26 lakh by cheque and Rs4 lakh in cash to Sandesha, recording the transaction on video, which captured Deepak Shah and the impostor posing as Sandesha.
When Rajput followed up with Thakur for registration formalities, the latter repeatedly dodged him. Growing suspicious, Rajput visited the housing society office to verify ownership.
Society members, after viewing the video, confirmed that while the flat did belong to Popatlal Sandesha, the man in the recording was a complete stranger. Realising he had been cheated, Rajput approached the Malad police and lodged a complaint.
An FIR was registered, triggering a detailed investigation. Assistant Police Inspector Deepak Raywade of the Malad detection team traced the money trail through bank records and identified withdrawal dates.
CCTV footage from the bank showed two men collecting the money. Police set a trap at the bank and detained Hitesh Kedar on January 6. The next day, Rajesh Prasad was arrested from Dahisar West.
During interrogation, Prasad revealed that Rajan Kakkad, Mohammad Raffiq Rashid Khan alias Ravi, and Amit Thakur alias Kasim Khan had asked him to lend his bank account to receive the cheated amount.
Prasad withdrew Rs26 lakh and handed over the cash to Ravi and Amit through Rajan. Police later arrested Nimesh Mawani from Thane, who had impersonated Popatlal Sandesha.
The arrested accused have been identified as Hitesh Kedar (30), delivery boy from Dahisar East; Rajesh Prasad (37), delivery boy from Kandivali West; Nimesh Mawani (49), Thane West; Mohammad Raffiq Rashid Khan (38), Andheri West; Deepak Shah (37), real estate agent from Nalasopara West; and Rajan Kakkad (45), Borivali West.
Amit Thakur remains absconding, and police said efforts are on to trace and arrest him.
Crime
Man arrested for cheating Delhi Police Constable of Rs 24 Lakh in investment scam

The Cyber Police Station of Delhi Police’s Central District has arrested a 26-year-old man for cheating a woman Constable of approximately Rs 24 lakh in an investment scam, officials said on Saturday.
The accused, identified as Vikrant Kumar alias Vicky Tomar, a resident of Vazidpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district, was arrested in connection with FIR No. 271/2026, registered on September 8 under Sections 318(4), 316(2) and 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the police, the case was registered following a complaint by Constable Shiwani of Delhi Police, who alleged that the accused approached her on Instagram under the pretext of seeking guidance regarding recruitment to the Delhi Police through the sports quota.
The conversation subsequently shifted to WhatsApp, where the accused allegedly established a rapport with the woman and portrayed himself as a prominent figure in cricket.
Investigators said he later persuaded her to invest money by promising high returns. Trusting his assurances, the complainant allegedly transferred her savings from her Axis Bank account, took a personal loan of Rs 12 lakh and borrowed additional money from acquaintances.
The woman was cheated of approximately Rs 24 lakh in total, the police said.
Of the total amount, around Rs 8 lakh was transferred to bank accounts linked to the online betting platform 1x.com, allegedly at the accused’s direction.
The police are investigating the financial transactions to establish the complete money trail and determine whether other individuals or accounts were involved in the alleged fraud.
The complaint also includes allegations of sexual misconduct. According to the police, during an in-person meeting, the accused allegedly touched the complainant’s waist inappropriately with the intention of outraging her modesty.
The allegation forms part of the case registered against him under the relevant provisions of the BNS.
The Cyber Police Station’s Central District team is continuing its investigation to determine whether the accused allegedly defrauded other people using a similar modus operandi.
Officials said efforts were underway to identify potential victims and establish whether additional financial transactions were linked to the case.
The police have not ruled out the possibility of further developments as the investigation progresses.
Business
ED raids Hyderabad firms in Rs 326 crore bank fraud probe

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, on Friday conducted search operations at seven premises across Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri in Telangana under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), an official statement said on Saturday.
The raids targeted the registered office of M/s Kanakadhara Ventures Pvt. Ltd. (KVPL), the residences of its directors, and premises linked to entities and individuals alleged to have acted as conduits for the diversion of bank funds.
The searches form part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged “misutilisation” and diversion of credit facilities sanctioned to KVPL and its directors, the ED statement said.
The ED case stems from an FIR dated December 8, 2022, registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Bank Securities and Fraud Branch (BS&FB), Bangalore, on a complaint from Punjab National Bank.
The FIR alleges offences under Sections 120-B, 420, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
According to the agency, a consortium of banks led by Punjab National Bank — comprising IDBI Bank, Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank (now UBI) and Bank of Baroda — suffered a loss of Rs 326.49 crore.
ED investigations revealed that Bank Guarantee and Letter of Credit facilities granted to KVPL were misused. Funds were allegedly diverted through related and conduit entities on the strength of fabricated steel purchase invoices and transport documents.
The company is also accused of operating bank accounts outside the consortium arrangement without the knowledge of the lending banks, the statement said.
During the searches, officials seized incriminating documents, digital devices and other records related to the diversion and layering of funds. Unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 15 lakh was also recovered.
Multiple immovable properties and investments linked to the case have been identified.
ED said further investigation is underway.
The coordinated action underscores the agency’s continued focus on tracing the proceeds of bank frauds and cracking down on complex money-laundering networks involving corporate entities.
Crime
ED arrests Baneet Singh Talwar in Rs 89 cr narcotics money laundering case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Baneet Singh Talwar, son of late Harminder Singh, on Friday, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a major case linked to large-scale narcotics smuggling, an official statement said on Saturday.
Talwar was produced before the Special Judge (PMLA), Tis Hazari Courts (West District), on Friday and remanded to five days of ED custody, the ED press note said.
The ED probe was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Indian Penal Code against Harpreet Singh Talwar and others.
The NIA has already filed six charge sheets, alleging a conspiracy with an international drug-smuggling syndicate operating from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Dubai under the mastermind Vitaysh Koser alias Raju Dubai, a wanted accused, along with Pakistani ISI agents and Afghan nationals, the statement said.
Investigations have revealed that proceeds amounting to Rs 76 crore generated from the illegal sale of narcotics were transferred via hawala to Afghanistan and used for funding terrorist activities.
Financial probes by the ED have so far identified proceeds of crime totalling Rs 89 crore arising from contraband smuggling, drug sale proceeds siphoned to Afghanistan through hawala channels, and goods received in kind.
Baneet Singh Talwar is brother of Harpreet Singh Talwar. Probe findings show that he continued to manage and operate business entities under the beneficial control of his brother even after the latter’s arrest by the NIA, it said.
He is alleged to have provided more than Rs 55 lakh to M/s Magent India, an entity controlled by Harpreet Singh Talwar and involved in narcotics smuggling.
Financial analysis has uncovered multiple instances of round-tripping of funds, with matching and mirror entries across different entities indicating a structured flow of proceeds of crime.
Baneet Singh is also accused of using cash deposits to finance the purchase of vehicles in the names of benami entities, which have already been seized by the ED, and of parking proceeds to acquire immovable properties whose benefits continue to be enjoyed by Harpreet Singh Talwar and his family.
The ED described the arrest as part of a whole-of-government approach to dismantle the drug-smuggling racket and the nexus involving narcotics trafficking, money laundering and hawala transactions. Further investigation is in progress.
-
Crime4 years agoClass 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra2 years agoFalse photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 years agoMinistry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMaharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News2 years agoJ&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime2 years agoBaba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
