Fake ‘NGOs’ Go Door-to-Door in Pune for ‘Donation’ — Residents Say It’s Extortion, Not Charity

Mohammadwadi, 7th August 2025: Residents of NIBM Annexe and Mohammadwadi have raised a serious alarm over what they call “systematic extortion rackets” masquerading as donation drives. Groups of youths — carrying fake identity cards — have reportedly been going from society to society , targeting children, elderly residents, and women, while falsely claiming to represent NGOs that do not exist in any government database.

What began as sporadic incidents has now grown into a persistent menace, residents say, prompting a community-wide demand for strict legal action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and extortion-related provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
“These are not donation drives, they are well-organised extortion rackets,” said Shailaja Puntambekar, a local resident and retired teacher. “They prey on fear, especially when the elderly are home alone. They flash fake IDs, get aggressive, and demand money.”

Arun Sabnis, another long-time resident of the area, added: “We’ve lived here for over a decade, and this has only worsened in the past two to three years. They knock at all hours, and if refused, they threaten or shame residents publicly.”

Vinayaka Joshi, a software professional from a nearby housing society, emphasized the psychological toll: “My teenage daughter was stopped outside our gate and pressured to ‘donate’. This isn’t charity — it’s targeted harassment.”

‘Time for FIRs and Crackdown’ Say Citizens, Social Workers
Local social worker Rekha Nene, who has been vocal about the issue online, posted on X (formerly Twitter):“We demand that @PuneCityPolice file an FIR under MCOCA and IPC 384 (extortion) against these donation gangs operating in NIBM-Mohammadwadi. No NGO registration, no credentials. Just fake IDs and fear tactics. Enough is enough.”

Residents say that despite repeated complaints, the Kalepadal police Station  and the Local Intelligence Branch (LIB) have failed to investigate or monitor the activities of these so-called donation syndicates. Many allege that no preventive surveillance is being conducted and that police presence in the area remains minimal.
“This is not just harassment — it’s organised street-level extortion happening in broad daylight. These young men are preying on our community with zero fear of law enforcement. If the police can’t act now, they are sending a clear message: citizens are on their own,”  pointed out social activist Jaymala Dhankikar

Lack of CCTV and Surveillance Makes Area Vulnerable
Residents also point to the lack of functional CCTV coverage in several pockets of NIBM Annexe and Mohammadwadi, making it easier for such groups to operate without consequences.

“The fact that there is no real-time CCTV monitoring or tracking only emboldens these gangs,” said Puntambekar. “Even if residents capture photos or videos, there’s no follow-up.”

What Citizens Want
Immediate FIR under MCOCA and extortion laws.
Investigation into the source and coordination of these groups.
Verification and crackdown on fake NGO claims.
Strengthened police patrolling and surveillance.
Installation of CCTV cameras in vulnerable spots and housing society peripheries.
The community plans to submit a formal memorandum to the Pune Police Commissioner and demand that a special task force be appointed to dismantle what they describe as a growing “urban extortion mafia” under the guise of social service.

The police have yet to issue an official statement on the matter.