Pune: Five arrested for cheating 39 people of Rs 15 lakh promising help to get loan from Maharashtra Berojgar Parishad

Pune: A fraud has been detected where fees amounting to Rs 15.78 lakh was collected from 39 people on the pretext of helping to get a loan from the Maharashtra Berojgar Parishad.

When the people concerned came to know that the kingpin in the fraud, Shodhan Bhave, was in Mumbai, they brought him to Pune and handed him over to the Yerwada Police. The police booked the people for kidnapping and beating Bhave. They booked Bhave and four others for cheating.

Laveena Amodan Marian (47), a resident of Kalyani Nagar, lodged a complaint at the Yerwada Police Station. An offence was registered against Asha Choudhari, Vaishnavi Kulkarni-Pathak, Anup Subhedar, Shodhan Bhave and Rajesh Kanbhaskar. The incident took place between November 2024 and April 1, 2025 at the Maharashtra Berojgar Parishad’s office named the Samrat Ashok Sena.

According to the police, Shodhan Bhave and accomplices connived and enticed the complainant by promising help to get a loan. They took money to process loan applications. They also took documents from the complainant. They did not help them get the loan and cheated them. The accused duped the complainant and 39 others by taking Rs 15.78 lakh. Two women are among the five arrested. PSI Nandkumar Kekan was investigating the matter.

Shodhan Anil Bhave (57), resident of Warje, also lodged a complaint at the Yerwada Police Station. An offence was registered against Vaishnavi Pathak (35), Dinesh Yewale (40), Avinash Pathak (40), Ashpak Qasim Aga (35), Amoghan Alex (36) and Rajesh Sheshnarayan Kantrolu (40). The incident took place from Hotel Kalinga, Andheri to Gunjan Chowk, Yerwada on April 9.

According to the police, the accused took Rs 15.78 lakh as application processing fees for loan from the Maharashtra Berojgar Parishad. When their loan was not approved, the people concerned searched for Shodhan Bhave. When they came to know that he stayed at Hotel Kalinga, they brought him to Pune from there. They beat him up at Gunjan Chowk, Yerwada. Three persons have been arrested in this connection. API Sunil Solunke was investigating.