Pune: Woman Arrested for Duping 14-Year-Old Girl with Fake Film Role Promise; Rs 3.22 Lakh Looted in Hadapsar

Pune :

A 14-year-old girl in Hadapsar fell victim to a well-designed con when she was lured with promises of a film role, only to be deceived into handing over cash and gold worth Rs 3.22 lakh. The Hadapsar police have booked a woman in connection with the case.

The accused, identified as Jyoti Dhanaji Khankal (38), resides in Manjri and has been booked based on a complaint filed by a 43-year-old resident of Ghule Colony. This incident took place between September 18 and October 22.

According to the police, the 14-year-old daughter of the plaintiff studies in class 10th. The accused woman’s daughter also studies with her in the same grade. As the plaintiff’s husband is a businessman, there is always cash in their house. The plaintiff had gone to the village with her husband. Jyoti Khankal lives in front of the plaintiff’s house. Both their daughters met a woman named Uma two months ago through their Instagram Celebrity Face ID.

After that, the accused woman allegedly convinced the girls that she could secure them a role in a film, setting the stage for Jyoti to gain the victim’s trust. With smooth talk and repeated assurances, Jyoti enticed the young girl with dreams of fame, ultimately persuading her to take Rs 1.7 lakh in cash from her household savings. Jyoti, aware that the plaintiff’s husband frequently kept cash at home due to his business, continued her scheme with increasing audacity.

In addition to the initial cash, Jyoti reportedly convinced the girl to make multiple transactions via Phone Pe, taking additional amounts of Rs 5,000, Rs 4,000, and a final Rs 42,000 from her. Jyoti then allegedly persuaded the minor to part with valuable jewellery from her home, including a 10-gram gold mangalsutra and a 2-gram gold ring.

The girl’s mother returned on October 20 and immediately noticed the absence of money and jewellery. Upon confronting her daughter, she learnt the details of Jyoti’s deceit. In total, the accused allegedly managed to swindle Rs 2.62 lakh in cash and Rs 60,000 in gold jewellery, totalling a loss of Rs 3.22 lakh.

After that, a complaint was filed with the Hadapsar police station, and the matter is now under further investigation by Police Sub-Inspector Ashok Gandhale.