Pune: Retired Banker Duped of Rs 4 Crore Over Fake Defence Deal Promise; Four Booked
Pune, 16th September 2025: A 53-year-old retired cooperative bank officer from Dattawadi has allegedly been swindled out of over ₹4 crore by a relative who posed as an officer in the Military Intelligence (MI), according to officials at Parvati Police Station.
The main accused, identified as 31-year-old Shubham Sunil Prabhale, reportedly misled the victim over a span of nearly four years, under the false pretense of needing money to process a large sum of ₹38 crore he claimed was owed to him by the Ministry of Defence for purported contractual work.
The complainant, convinced by the elaborate deception, made several payments, both in cash and via online transfers, which together amounted to ₹4.06 crore. These funds were raised not only from personal savings and his wife’s bank accounts but also through loans from relatives and the sale of family-owned assets, including real estate and a vehicle.
Police have also named Prabhale’s father, mother, and brother as co-accused in the case. All four have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 204 for impersonation of a public servant and Section 318 for cheating.
According to the police, Prabhale initially claimed to be affiliated with Military Intelligence and gradually built a narrative that he was about to receive a substantial payout from the Defence Ministry. To maintain the illusion and gain the complainant’s continued trust, he even arranged calls with individuals posing as senior defence officials who falsely assured the victim that the funds were in process. Whenever the complainant sought repayment, the accused would involve others who pretended to be Ministry officials, reinforcing the story that the money was about to be disbursed.
Eventually, as no money materialized and suspicions grew, the retired banker approached the police. An FIR was registered on Monday, and a search has been launched to locate Prabhale and the others involved.
