A man allegedly cheated dozens of women by posing as a senior government officer or scientist on matrimonial websites and dating apps in Navi Mumbai. Police said the accused is only a 10th pass, but he used fake identities to introduce himself as an ISRO scientist or a senior PWD official to befriend women and later extract money from them.
The accused has been identified as Adarsh Mhatre, a resident of Alibaug. During the investigation, it was found that he targeted educated and financially independent women using forged identities. He had prepared more than 12 fake identity documents, including forged Aadhaar cards and other government identification papers.
Trust Then Loan Extraction
According to investigators, the accused first gained the trust of women and also established intimate relationships with them. After that, he persuaded them to take loans or invest money in the name of securing their future or purchasing land. The money received from victims was transferred into bank accounts opened with the help of his cousin and later spent in casinos and luxury hotels in Goa.
Police suspect that the accused may have cheated more than 50 women, though many victims did not file complaints due to social stigma and family concerns. The ongoing investigation has revealed fraud worth at least ₹1 crore.
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Dual Arrests Made
The Navi Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Adarsh Mhatre on February 20 and remanded him in police custody until March 4. The probe also revealed that his cousin, 21-year-old Prem Mhatre, a resident of Panvel, allowed his bank account to be used for transferring the cheated money, leading to his arrest as well.
During the investigation, police linked two earlier cases registered at Rabale and Panvel City police stations in October last year and January this year to the same gang. Officials said the accused used the name Swapnil Warule on matrimonial platforms and befriended an IT engineer from Airoli.
₹20 Lakh ISRO Land Scam
In one case, he claimed to be an ISRO scientist and cheated a woman of ₹20 lakh by convincing her to take a personal loan for investing in land in Surat before marriage. The money was transferred through RTGS into the bank account provided by the accused. Police have since frozen around ₹14.5 lakh from that account.
Investigation also revealed that a large portion of the cheated money was spent in five-star hotels and casinos in Goa. Police have recovered records showing about ₹89.4 lakh spent in a casino in Goa.
Authorities have urged users of matrimonial websites and dating apps to carefully verify the background of individuals before accepting relationship proposals and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the police. The investigation in the case is continuing.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
