Pune: Jeweller Cheats 2,000 Investors, Fakes Robbery Using Toy Gun to Evade Repayment
Dhayari, 9th June 2025: A multi-crore financial fraud has shaken Pune’s Dhayari area, where Vishnu Sakharam Dahiwal, owner of Shree Jewellers, allegedly defrauded over 2,000 investors through a Bhishi (chit fund) scheme. The victims — many of them women, senior citizens, and low-income earners — have lost their life savings after trusting the jeweller for years.
Dahiwal disappeared on May 24, shortly after staging a fake robbery at his shop. Using a toy gun, he falsely claimed gold worth ₹20 lakh had been looted and even filed a bogus police complaint on May 21, allegedly to mislead those demanding their returns.
Victims Recount Emotional and Financial Trauma
Investors have since come forward, describing the devastating impact:
Archana Ramdas, a schoolteacher, invested ₹1 lakh in monthly instalments and lost her savings after initial returns built false confidence.
Karuna Wanjale said her elderly mother, who lost ₹5 lakh, has been severely depressed since visiting the shop just before Dahiwal fled.
Anjali Thakur, a house help, mortgaged three tolas of gold for a ₹1 lakh loan. Despite repaying almost the full amount, she never recovered her jewellery.
Shri Kalmani, speaking on behalf of his sister, revealed she invested ₹7.7 lakh and gave six tolas of gold for her daughter’s wedding jewellery. A ₹5 lakh cheque issued by Dahiwal bounced.
Police Criticized for Inaction
Victims and social activists are now accusing the police of negligence. Though Dahiwal and three associates were arrested for faking the robbery, they were later released due to procedural constraints. Authorities claim that court approval was required to proceed with fraud charges.
Kishore Kopokle, a local activist, estimated the fraud to exceed ₹5 crore and criticized the police for ignoring early red flags. He questioned why Dahiwal was allowed to go free after clear evidence of deception.
Political Leaders Join Protest
Rahul Pokale, spokesperson for the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), condemned the delay in registering an FIR and expressed concern for the thousands affected — particularly women and daily wage earners. He also raised alarm over the fact that relatives involved in the staged robbery were let off without explanation.
Ongoing Investigation
Senior Police Inspector Atul Bhos of Nanded City Police Station confirmed that the robbery complaint filed by Dahiwal was false and executed with a toy weapon. CCTV footage helped identify and arrest the suspects involved in the staged incident.
So far, complaints from 35 victims have been formally recorded, and the process of registering an FIR is underway. Police say a dedicated team is now actively tracking Dahiwal’s whereabouts and have assured the public that he will be brought to justice.
