Special Correspondent | Pune
In a shocking development linked to the ongoing Vaishnavi Hagavane suicide case, the Hagavane family has once again come under scrutiny—this time for orchestrating a fraudulent seizure of a JCB machine by sending fake bank officials. The incident has led to the arrest of three individuals, exposing a deeper web of deceit tied to the controversial family.
According to the police, Yogesh Rajendra Raskar (25), Ganesh Ramesh Potale (30), and Vaibhav Mohan Pingale (27) were arrested by the Mahalunge MIDC Police for posing as bank employees and unlawfully seizing a JCB machine from one Prashant Yelwande.
The background of the case reveals that Prashant Yelwande had legally purchased the JCB machine from Lata and Shashank Hagavane for ₹24 lakh. Despite completing the financial transaction in full, a few days later, individuals claiming to be bank officers arrived at his premises and falsely informed him that the machine was under bank seizure due to unpaid dues. They then forcibly took possession of the equipment.
Suspecting foul play, Yelwande lodged a complaint with the Mahalunge MIDC police. Upon investigation, police had already arrested Lata and Shashank Hagavane for their involvement in the scam. Further interrogation of the duo led authorities to the three impersonators who were then apprehended.
The police revealed that this was a pre-planned attempt to reclaim the machine illegally and without court order by misleading the buyer using fake identities and fabricated claims. Authorities believe this may not be an isolated incident and are currently investigating whether the Hagavane family is involved in other such fraudulent activities.
The incident raises serious questions about the extent of organized fraud and impersonation tactics being used to manipulate property deals and bypass legal procedures. More arrests may follow as the investigation unfolds.
