For three years, Nilesh Paunikar, 31, evaded investigators while orchestrating a sophisticated home loan fraud worth ₹3 crore. His eventual capture last week underscored both the persistence of Nagpur’s Wathoda police and the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern policing. Officers revealed that they used ChatGPT to analyze details from social media photographs, ultimately identifying the school Paunikar’s son attended. That breakthrough led to his arrest between August 19 and 25, marking a rare intersection of AI tools and traditional investigative tactics.
Anatomy Of A Fraud Syndicate
The gang’s operation was methodical. According to police, Paunikar, alongside accomplices Sandeep Nimbhorkar, Ishan Watkar, Imran Ali Hashmi, and Ajay Pathrabe, targeted real estate listings to siphon loans. Their method hinged on forging ownership documents: registration papers were altered with false photographs, while fake Aadhaar, PAN, and even disability certificates were crafted to establish credibility. Investigators said Pathrabe posed as the fake seller, Watkar as the buyer, and Hashmi specialized in document forgery. The fraudulent paperwork enabled them to open accounts and secure loans from multiple banks.
Data Protection and DPDP Act Readiness: Hundreds of Senior Leaders Sign Up for CDPO Program
Multiple Targets Across The City
The scope of the fraud was significant. Police linked the syndicate to 11 properties across Nagpur, with cases registered in Beltarodi, Sadar, Pachpaoli, Sakkardara, and Wathoda. In one instance, a property owner in Pune who listed his flat on OLX became an unwitting victim. Funds were funneled into fabricated accounts, then distributed among conspirators. Despite earlier cases against Paunikar—where he was already on pre-arrest bail—his network remained active, expanding its reach across the city’s financial institutions.
A Signal Of Things To Come
Law enforcement officials emphasized that the investigation reflects both the adaptability of criminals and the necessity for innovative policing. “The syndicate’s modus operandi was meticulously planned,” said Zonal DCP Rashmitha Rao, flanked by ACP Narendra Hiware. While some accomplices remain at large, police said Paunikar’s arrest marks a turning point. The reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT in this case has sparked broader discussions on how technology can be deployed to track increasingly sophisticated frauds. For Nagpur’s police, the operation was not just an arrest but a glimpse into the evolving future of crime-fighting.