In a major breakthrough, Vishrambaug Police have arrested a 54-year-old man, Rajoo Pralhad Kulkarni, from another state for deceiving 21 senior citizens through ATM card fraud. The accused, known for his deceptive tactics, swapped ATM cards while pretending to assist elderly individuals with cash withdrawals. He has been linked to multiple fraud cases across Pune.
Originally from Mysore, Karnataka, Kulkarni has a long history of fraudulent activities. Police records show 16 cases registered against him in various stations, including Vishrambaug, Sahakarnagar, Bibvewadi, Sinhagad Road, Kothrud, Vishrantwadi, Alandi, Bhosari, Lashkar, Bharati Vidyapeeth, and Shivajinagar.
The scam came to light on February 2nd when Kulkarni targeted a senior citizen at an ATM on Lakshmi Road. Under the pretense of assisting the victim, he discreetly exchanged the ATM card and convinced the individual that a technical issue had occurred. He then used the swapped card at another ATM to withdraw ₹22,000 before the victim could realize the fraud. The complaint filed at Vishrambaug Police Station led to an in-depth investigation.
Through technical analysis and intelligence gathering, police apprehended Kulkarni and found 166 ATM cards from various banks in his possession. Investigations revealed that he had defrauded senior citizens of a total of ₹17,92,900. Authorities have successfully recovered ₹13,90,700 so far.
The operation was conducted under the leadership of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Ranjankumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner Praveenkumar Patil, and Assistant Commissioner Sandeep Singh Gill. Senior Police Inspector Vijaymala Pawar, Police Inspector Arun Ghodeke, and Police Sub-Inspector Manoj Barure played key roles in the case.
Kulkarni deliberately preyed on elderly individuals struggling with ATM transactions. Gaining their trust, he obtained their PINs before executing the card swap. Victims were misled into believing their PIN was incorrect and were advised to visit the bank while he withdrew cash using the stolen card.
Since 2021, he had been executing these crimes, frequently leaving Pune after each scam to evade capture. His ability to remain undetected for so long complicated law enforcement efforts.
Police suspect that Kulkarni may have committed additional offenses in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Authorities are currently working with multiple banks to uncover more fraudulent transactions. Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh Gill expressed confidence that further revelations will emerge as the investigation progresses.
