Pune Cyber Police Arrest 'Reel Star' in ₹10.74-Crore Scam

A 26-year-old man, identified as Rohan Rameshwar Jadhav, has been arrested by the Pune Cyber Police in connection with a ₹10.74-crore digital arrest scam. Jadhav, a resident of Pimple Gurav, is a social media 'reel star' and was allegedly part of a cyber fraud syndicate that targeted a senior citizen.

The scam involved fraudsters contacting the victim and claiming that a bank account had been opened in his name using his Aadhaar card. They allegedly told the senior citizen that 24 people had complained of fraud involving the account and threatened that he and his family members could be arrested. Using this threat, the accused forced the victim to transfer his entire investment portfolio to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

The fraud took place between January 23 and 31, 2026. Police had earlier arrested three other individuals in connection with the case, and during their interrogation, Jadhav's alleged involvement came to light. Investigators found that 29 cybercrime complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal were linked to bank accounts allegedly used by Jadhav.

Jadhav was also found to be in contact with suspected accused persons based in Hong Kong. A non-bailable warrant had been issued against him by the court, and he was arrested after the Cyber Police examined his bank transactions, financial dealings, and links with other members of the syndicate.

The investigation has revealed that the ₹10.74 crore allegedly siphoned from the senior citizen was transferred through as many as 5,436 bank accounts. Police have so far managed to freeze around ₹1.34 crore of the defrauded amount.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of senior police officials, including Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay Darade. Senior Police Inspector Swapnali Shinde is conducting the investigation.

The arrest of Jadhav is a significant breakthrough in the case, and the police are working to recover the remaining amount of the defrauded money. The case highlights the growing concern of cybercrime in India and the need for citizens to be vigilant when dealing with online transactions.

The Pune Cyber Police have been actively working to combat cybercrime in the city, and this arrest is a testament to their efforts. The police are also working to raise awareness about the dangers of cybercrime and to educate citizens on how to protect themselves from such scams.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cybercrime cases in India, with many people falling prey to online scams. The government has taken steps to combat cybercrime, including setting up a national cybercrime reporting portal and increasing the number of cybercrime cells across the country.

The case of Rohan Rameshwar Jadhav serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious when dealing with online transactions and the need to report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, and the police are working to identify other individuals who may be involved in the scam. The arrest of Jadhav is a significant step towards bringing the perpetrators of the scam to justice and recovering the defrauded amount.