Mumbai Police Arrests Solapur Man in ₹31.5 Lakh Cyber Fraud Case

A 75-year-old senior citizen from Mumbai was duped of ₹31.50 lakh by fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials. The fraudsters contacted the victim, Shirish Vasantlal Astik, through WhatsApp between July 15 and July 27, 2026, and introduced themselves as NIA officer Pradeep Jaiswal.

They falsely claimed that a fake SIM card had been issued using the complainant's Aadhaar details and that the SIM card had been used to open a Canara Bank account involved in money laundering activities. The accused further alleged that the victim had links with the banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) and threatened to register criminal cases against the victim's children.

The fraudsters placed the victim under a purported 'digital arrest,' creating fear and panic. Under pressure, the senior citizen transferred a total of ₹31.50 lakh into multiple bank accounts as instructed by the fraudsters. A case was subsequently registered at the South Cyber Police Station.

During the investigation, police found that the entire defrauded amount was first transferred to a bank account opened in Solapur in the name of Janata Medical. Acting on this lead, a team led by Assistant Police Inspector Kharote travelled to Solapur and apprehended the account holder, Ashpak Babulal Pathan.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused runs a medical business in Solapur and had provided his identity documents to certain individuals to facilitate the opening of the bank account, which was later used to receive proceeds of cyber fraud. The accused has been brought to Mumbai and will be produced before the holiday court.

The South Cyber Police are continuing their investigation to identify and arrest the kingpins behind the cyber fraud racket. This case highlights the growing concern of cyber fraud in Mumbai, where fraudsters use various tactics to dupe unsuspecting citizens. The Mumbai Police have been working to combat such crimes and have achieved several breakthroughs in recent times.

The use of WhatsApp and other social media platforms by fraudsters to contact their victims has become a common modus operandi. The police have been advising citizens to be cautious when receiving messages or calls from unknown numbers and to verify the authenticity of such messages before taking any action.

In this case, the fraudsters used the fear of 'digital arrest' to intimidate the victim and extract money from him. The police have been working to create awareness among citizens about such tactics and to prevent them from falling prey to cyber fraud.

The arrest of Ashpak Babulal Pathan is a significant breakthrough in the investigation, and the police are hopeful of catching the other accused soon. The case is a reminder of the need for citizens to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activities to the police immediately.

The Mumbai Police have been taking several measures to combat cyber fraud, including conducting awareness campaigns and setting up special cells to deal with such cases. The police have also been working with banks and other financial institutions to prevent such frauds and to track down the accused.

In conclusion, the arrest of Ashpak Babulal Pathan in the ₹31.5 lakh cyber fraud case is a significant achievement for the Mumbai Police. The case highlights the growing concern of cyber fraud in Mumbai and the need for citizens to be cautious when receiving messages or calls from unknown numbers. The police will continue to work to combat such crimes and to create awareness among citizens about the tactics used by fraudsters.