Pune: Man Arrested for Duping Woman of Rs 21 Lakh on Matrimonial Site, Giving Fake Currency Notes While Returning Money
Pune, 11th May 2026: Sinhagad Road police have arrested a man accused of cheating a 32-year-old woman of Rs 21 lakh after allegedly luring her with a promise of marriage through a matrimonial website and later handing her a bag filled with toy currency notes instead of returning the money.
Based on a complaint lodged by the woman, police have booked Gorakhnath Gavandkar, a resident of Kadsure village in Raigad district.
According to police, the complainant lives in the Nanded City area on Sinhagad Road. She had registered on a matrimonial website last year, where the accused allegedly contacted her and gradually gained her trust by promising marriage.
Police said the accused claimed he was facing financial difficulties and allegedly took Rs 21 lakh from the woman at different times. When she later demanded the money back, he allegedly assured her that he would return the amount and called her to meet him in the Sinhagad Road area.
The two met at a hotel, where the accused allegedly handed over a bag claiming it contained the cash. However, without checking the contents, the woman left the spot while the accused fled.
After some time, when she opened the bag, she found that it was filled with fake toy currency notes, police said. Following the incident, the woman approached Sinhagad Road police station and lodged a complaint. Police said efforts are underway to trace the accused.
