Pune Cyber Police Bust Inter-State Gang for Rs 1.95 Crore WhatsApp Impersonation Fraud; Two Arrested from Karnataka

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 20th February 2026: The Pune City Cyber Police have arrested two members of an inter-state syndicate from Belgaum, Karnataka, for allegedly duping a Pune-based company of Rs 1.95 crore. The fraudsters utilized a “Boss Scam” modus operandi, impersonating the company’s owner on WhatsApp to authorize fraudulent transfers.

The Modus Operandi
According to the official press note released by the Cyber Police Station (Economic & Cyber Crimes, Pune City), the scammers contacted the company’s staff via WhatsApp. By using the company owner’s photo as their Display Picture (DP), they successfully posed as the executive and instructed the staff to process an urgent “client payment”. Deceived by the impersonator, the company transferred a total of Rs 1,95,00,000 into the fraudulent bank account.

An FIR (CR No. 13/2026) was promptly registered under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.

Investigation and Arrests
Technical analysis of the transaction revealed that the swindled funds were routed to an Axis Bank account registered under “ShriKannaya Enterprises,” located in Gandhi Nagar, Belgaum, Karnataka.

Following the digital trail, the Pune Cyber Police tracked down and arrested two suspects from Belgaum:
Ajay Ramvilas Yadav (22): A hardware professional residing in Laxmi Nagar, Kakati, Belgaum. He is the son of the Axis Bank account holder.
Salman Gaus Mohiyuddin Ajnal (32): A resident of Zhatpat Colony, Angol, Belgaum. He allegedly orchestrated the misuse of the bank account.
During the arrest, officers seized three mobile phones, an Axis Bank passbook, and a debit card from the accused.

The Investigating Team
The successful interstate operation was executed under the guidance of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint CP Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Additional CP (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh, DCP (Economic & Cyber Crime) Vivek Masal, ACP Shubhada Sankhe, and Senior PI Swapnali Shinde.

The on-ground investigation and arrests were carried out by Police Inspector Sangita Devkate, Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sushil Dumre, and police personnel Sandesh Karne, Pravin Singh Rajput, Rajudas Chavan, Amar Bansode, Shital Dange, and Aniket Bhingareya.

Police Advisory against “Man-in-the-Middle” Attacks

In light of the incident, the Pune Cyber Police have issued a critical advisory for businesses and citizens:

For Businesses: Fraudsters often spoof emails by making minor changes to the IDs or use fake WhatsApp DPs to mimic senior management. Accounts departments must enforce strict communication protocols and physically or verbally verify all instructions before authorizing high-value transactions. This helps mitigate “Man-in-the-Middle” scams.

For Citizens: The public is urged to report to the nearest police station immediately if they face threats or suspicious offers, including:
Unrealistic high-return share trading schemes.
“Digital Arrest” threats or fake calls claiming illegal drugs were found in international parcels.
Fake SMS alerts regarding immediate electricity or gas connection disconnections.
Unsolicited links asking for online bank KYC updates.