Man Posing as ISRO Scientist and PWD Officer Defrauds Women on Matrimonial Websites
A 34-year-old man from Alibaug, Adarsh Mhatre, has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting educated and financially independent women on matrimonial websites and dating apps. Posing as an "ISRO scientist" and a "senior PWD officer" among other fake identities, he deceived victims into taking loans for property investments, siphoning off at least Rs 1 crore.
Elaborate Deception with Fake Identities
Using at least 12 fabricated personas, forged Aadhaar cards, and fake official ID cards, Mhatre gained the trust of his victims. He established intimate relationships and then persuaded them to secure loans, claiming the funds were for future property investments. The money was transferred to bank accounts arranged with the help of his cousin, Prem Mhatre, and later squandered on gambling sprees in Goa.
Despite his tall claims, Adarsh Mhatre is only an SSC pass and a history-sheeter with 10 FIRs registered against him across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Police suspect he may have targeted nearly 50 women, though many are unwilling to lodge complaints due to social stigma and family backgrounds.
Targeting Professionals and Vulnerable Women
Senior inspector Sunil Shinde of the Navi Mumbai crime branch stated that Mhatre deliberately targeted professionals such as engineers, doctors, bankers, and government officers, as well as widows and spinsters who were financially sound. DCP (crime) Sachin Gunjal explained, "He would carefully cultivate relationships, project a successful and respectable image, and then exploit their trust."
The duo was arrested on February 20, with Adarsh remanded in police custody until March 4. Prem Mhatre, 21, from Panvel, was also arrested for allegedly providing his bank account details to facilitate the transfer of cheated funds.
Specific Cases and Financial Losses
With the arrests, police have detected two cases registered at Rabale and Panvel City police stations in October last year and January this year. In one instance, Mhatre introduced himself as "Swapnil Warule" on a matrimonial platform and befriended an IT engineer from Airoli. The woman filed an FIR at Rabale police station, alleging she was defrauded of Rs 20 lakh and sexually assaulted by "Swapnil," who posed as an ISRO scientist.
He convinced her to avail a pre-approved personal loan of Rs 20 lakh, claiming he needed funds to buy land in Surat as an investment before their marriage. The amount was transferred via RTGS to a bank account he provided, and police have frozen Rs 14.5 lakh from that account.
Police found that four other women were similarly cheated in this case, but they declined to file complaints and have been made witnesses in the Rabale FIR. The total amount cheated from the Airoli complainant and the four witnesses stands at Rs 97 lakh. Police have recovered Rs 89.4 lakh that the accused spent at a Goa casino.
Recovery and Warnings
During the investigation, police recovered multiple forged identity documents, including fake Aadhaar cards and fabricated ID cards. They have urged women using matrimonial websites and dating apps to thoroughly verify the background of individuals before accepting proposals or developing relationships to prevent such frauds.
DCP Gunjal noted that the accused splurged a large portion of the defrauded money at high-end five-star hotels and casinos in Goa, highlighting the reckless spending of the illicit gains.
