Retired Teacher in Kolhapur Loses Rs 59 Lakh in Elaborate Digital Scam
A 61-year-old retired Navodaya School teacher from Savlaj village in Tasgaon tehsil, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, has fallen victim to a devastating digital scam, losing a staggering Rs 59 lakh over the course of a single week in January. The fraud involved sophisticated impersonation tactics that coerced the victim into liquidating his fixed deposits and a senior citizen savings scheme under false pretenses.
Victim Identified as Annasaheb Balgonda Patil
Police have identified the fraud victim as Annasaheb Balgonda Patil, a resident of Savlaj village in Tasgaon tehsil of Sangli district. Patil lives with his wife, son, and daughter. The elaborate scam began on January 8 when Patil received a phone call from an individual claiming to represent a telecom company. The caller alleged that a First Information Report (FIR) had been registered against Patil and promptly transferred the call to what was purported to be a Bengaluru police station.
During this call, Patil was informed that his mobile phone number was being used to harass women, and he was told he would need to obtain a clearance certificate to resolve the matter. This initial contact set the stage for a series of escalating threats and manipulations.
Escalation of Threats and Impersonation
Later on the same day, Patil received a WhatsApp call from a person using the name Ajay Patil, who threatened him with arrest if he did not comply with their demands. The following day, Ajay Patil contacted him again and transferred the call to another individual who identified himself as a former Mumbai police encounter specialist. This person displayed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) logo during the WhatsApp video call to appear more credible.
The impersonator alleged that a man named Sadakat Khan had been arrested for human trafficking and that Patil's Aadhaar card had been found in Khan's possession. To reinforce this claim, the scammer showed Patil a photograph of Khan holding bundles of cash, creating a false narrative of criminal involvement.
Coercion and Financial Drain
Over the next two days, the duo repeatedly called Patil, questioning his level of cooperation and warning him not to approach the local police. On January 12, the individual posing as the former Mumbai police officer informed Patil that the Supreme Court's auditor needed to verify whether his money was linked to the alleged proceeds of crime.
Under immense pressure and fear, Patil liquidated his fixed deposit and transferred the funds into his savings account. He was then instructed to transfer the amounts via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) into two different bank accounts—one transfer on January 13 and the remaining amount the following day.
Additional Demands and Discovery of Fraud
After the initial transfers, the scammers demanded an additional Rs 47 lakh as a "security deposit," claiming that the serial numbers of the money he had transferred matched those recovered in the human trafficking case. They further intimidated Patil by showing him fake income tax orders and an "arrest warrant," threatening immediate detention if he did not comply.
The scam was only uncovered when Patil approached his nephew to arrange more money. His relatives immediately recognized the situation as a fraud and informed him that he had been cheated, preventing further financial loss.
Police Investigation and Legal Action
Inspector Vishal Takle of the Tasgaon police confirmed that an FIR was registered on Wednesday. Due to the digital nature of the crime, the case is set to be transferred to the Sangli police's cyber cell for further investigation. The FIR names Ajay Patil and the person identifying as the former Mumbai police officer under various sections of the Information Technology Act and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
This incident highlights the growing threat of digital scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly senior citizens, through elaborate impersonation and psychological manipulation. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and verify any suspicious claims directly with official channels before taking any financial actions.
