Pune: Credit Society Directors, Office-Bearers Booked for Extorting Rs 37.5 Lakh and Defrauding Caterer of Rs 99.46 Lakh

Pune, 17th July 2026: The Vishrambaug Police have booked seven directors and office-bearers of The Pune Post and Telecom Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. for allegedly extorting ₹37.50 lakh in cash and collectively defrauding a 59-year-old local caterer of ₹99.46 lakh.

The case was registered on Wednesday night, July 15, 2026, following a detailed preliminary inquiry into a complaint lodged by the victim, Ajay Sayajirao Desai (59), a resident of Sinhagad Road who runs an outdoor catering and event management business.

The Accused
The police have registered the First Information Report (FIR No. 250/2026) against the following individuals:
Deepak Keshavrao Dhumal (65), resident of Kothrud, Pune (Director)
Nagesh Khashaba Nalawade (53), resident of Kothrud, Pune (Director)
Umakant Ramchandra Walgude (56), resident of Katraj, Pune (Director)
Ganesh Ratnakar Bhoj (53), resident of Kedari Road, Bhimpura Camp, Pune (Director)
Dinesh Arun Khodke (49), resident of Kothrud, Pune (former Manager/Director)
Rajan Shankar Kamthe (58), resident of Fursungi, Pune (Manager)
Nitin Haribhau Waghmare (52), resident of Mangalwar Peth, Pune
Genesis of the Dispute: Emerald Hall Renovation
According to the FIR, the credit society owned a defunct property called Emerald Hall in Mhalunge, Pune, which was closed due to a court dispute. In 2018, Desai contacted the society’s then-manager, Dinesh Khodke, expressing interest in renting the hall.

Desai was subsequently introduced to directors Nagesh Nalawade and Deepak Dhumal. In July 2020, Desai was asked by the management to repair, renovate, and revive the hall. Desai spent a significant amount of his own funds to renovate the venue, renaming the facilities Diamond Hall, Platinum Hall, and Topaz Hall.

On May 6, 2021, a formal three-year agreement was signed between Desai and the credit society for catering and event management, which included a defined rent and an 11% royalty payable to the society.

Systematic Demands and Coercion
Once the venue gained popularity and business picked up, the accused allegedly began demanding illegal, off-the-record partnerships and commissions:
Partnership Demands: Dinesh Khodke allegedly demanded a 50% partnership in the catering business, threatening to shut down Desai’s operations if he refused. Later, Rajan Kamthe also summoned Desai to his Fursungi residence to demand a 50% partnership.
Per-Event Commission: Kamthe allegedly demanded a commission on every event booked at the hall.
Extortion Under Legal Guise: Nagesh Nalawade allegedly demanded cash under the pretext of needing funds to defend the society’s legal court cases.
Fearing the termination of his contract and the loss of his massive renovation investment, Desai complied and paid various amounts in cash.
Escalation: The ₹25 Lakh “Advance” and ₹60 Lakh Demand
The harassment escalated on December 22, 2023, when Rajan Kamthe called Desai to the credit society’s office in Sadashiv Peth. In the presence of Walgude, Nalawade, Bhoj, and Dhumal, Deepak Dhumal allegedly stated that demanding per-event commissions was inconvenient and demanded a lump-sum “advance” of ₹5 lakh per director (totaling ₹25 lakh) for the year. They threatened to evict Desai and hand the contract to a competitor, “Dhopate Events,” if he failed to pay.

Further instances of extortion detailed in the FIR include:
February 13, 2024: Director Umakant Walgude allegedly demanded and accepted ₹3 lakh in cash from Desai as a “birthday gift”.
March 2024: The accused brought a rival caterer to the hall and threatened to hand over the contract unless Desai paid them ₹60 lakh.
April 2, 2024: The directors summoned Desai and his wife, Vijaya, to the Sadashiv Peth office, demanding ₹60 lakh in cash. When Desai pleaded financial distress, Deepak Dhumal allegedly mocked him, saying, “Should we beg from you? This is how business works here.”
Installment Coercion: They forced Desai to agree to an installment plan, taking ₹15 lakh in cash on April 5, 2024, and another ₹10 lakh in cash on July 7, 2024. Desai and his wife had to mortgage their family gold jewelry to arrange these funds.
Lockout and Physical Threats
Despite receiving the extortion payments, the accused allegedly snatched the hall keys from Desai on July 7, 2024, demanding an additional ₹5 lakh deposit and higher royalties.

On July 17, 2024, Deepak Dhumal, Nagesh Nalawade, Nitin Waghmare, and others allegedly barged into Desai’s apartment on Sinhagad Road. Nalawade threatened him, saying, “Desai, if you don’t pay up, we will beat you up, throw you out, and bring in another caterer.”

The credit society management officially locked Desai out of the premises and illegally awarded the hall contract to Dhopate Events on May 24, 2025.

Financial Breakdown of the Scam
The complainant submitted detailed bank transactions and cash payment records to the police, showcasing a total loss of ₹99,46,440 between 2021 and 2025, which includes:
₹18,74,000 transferred via Nitin Waghmare to Nagesh Nalawade’s Bank of Maharashtra account.
₹3,00,000 paid in cash to Umakant Walgude.
₹3,00,000 paid in cash to Deepak Dhumal.
₹3,00,000 paid in cash to Dinesh Khodke.
₹37,50,000 direct extortion cash paid in multiple installments (including the ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh payments).

Police Investigation
The Vishrambaug Police have registered the case under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023:
Section 308(2): Extortion
Section 308(3): Putting or attempting to put a person in fear of injury to commit extortion
Section 3(5): Joint criminal liability / Common intention
The case has been handed over to Sub-Inspector Umesh Dattatray Karke for further investigation.