Pune: In a major crackdown on a fraudulent syndicate, the Loni Kalbhor police have arrested a woman, Snehal Kamble, for impersonating a lawyer and extorting large sums of money from unsuspecting individuals under the guise of offering legal help. The racket, which is suspected to span areas such as Loni Kalbhor, Hadapsar, and Kondhwa, involved a network of individuals posing as lawyers and police personnel to deceive vulnerable victims.
An FIR has been lodged against Kamble at the Loni Kalbhor police station — her third such case — for impersonating a legal professional and duping people at police stations. She allegedly approached citizens seeking to register complaints and promised swift resolutions in exchange for hefty payments.
Investigations have revealed that Kamble is part of a broader network of fraudsters, including both men and women, who operate near police stations, especially targeting individuals involved in family or criminal disputes. The accused reportedly instilled fear in victims by threatening them with fabricated charges, including false cases under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, to prevent them from speaking out.
The operation that led to Kamble’s arrest was spearheaded by Senior Inspector Rajendra Panhale under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Circle 5), Dr. Rajkumar Shinde. A sting operation was set up after multiple complaints, resulting in Kamble being caught in the act of accepting extortion money.
In one case, Kamble allegedly extorted ₹5.3 lakh from Sujata Ashok Gaikwad, a 65-year-old resident of Lohia Nagar, by promising to facilitate her son’s divorce. Another victim, farmer Kadu Baburao Satpute from Ahilyanagar, was reportedly conned out of ₹5.5 lakh after Kamble falsely claimed that his daughter-in-law had lodged a rape complaint and a case with the women’s commission. She then demanded additional money to “resolve” the fabricated issues.
Following Satpute’s approach to senior police officials, the sting was executed successfully. Searches at Kamble’s residence yielded a trove of suspicious materials, including copies of FIRs, legal complaint forms, and property documents, suggesting the possibility of further fraudulent activities.
Another complaint has been registered by Manda Landge, who was allegedly deceived of ₹1.3 lakh after Kamble promised to help her daughter reunite with her children.
Kamble is currently in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities believe that this is only the beginning of unearthing a larger operation of fake legal agents exploiting citizens. Police are now urging other victims to come forward with information.
