Special Correspondent, Pune:
A major loan scam has been uncovered in Pune where 39 individuals were cheated of Rs. 15.78 lakh under the pretext of loan approval through a fake organization named ‘Maharashtra Unemployment Council’.
The prime accused, Shodhan Bhave, was caught by the victims themselves from a hotel in Andheri, Mumbai. A case has been registered at Yerwada Police Station based on a complaint filed by Lavina Marian.
The accused named in the FIR include Shodhan Bhave, Asha Chaudhary, Vaishnavi Kulkarni-Pathak, Anup Subhedar, and Rajesh Kanbhaskar. The scam took place between November 2024 and April 2025.
According to the complaint, the accused collected documents and processing fees from victims by promising them loans, but never disbursed any funds and instead siphoned off the money.
In a twist, Bhave also filed a counter-complaint naming Vaishnavi Pathak, Dinesh Yewale, Avinash Pathak, Ashfaq Aga, Amoghan Alex, and Rajesh Controlu. On April 9, the victims nabbed Bhave from Hotel Kalinga in Andheri and brought him to Pune, where he was allegedly beaten up at Gunjan Talkies Chowk in Yerwada.
Police investigations are ongoing.
