Pimpri-Chinchwad: Dubai-Based Cyber Fraud Suspect Deported and Arrested at Mumbai Airport; Police Say He Used 150 Mule Accounts, Earned Over ₹1 Crore

Pimpri-Chinchwad, 3rd November 2026: The Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police have arrested a 26-year-old man from Nigdi Pradhikaran who, they allege, ran part of a cyber fraud network from Dubai in league with Chinese cybercriminals. He was detained in Dubai with Interpol’s help, deported and taken into custody at Mumbai airport.

Police identified him as Sumant alias Nanu Ravindra Dasare. Two alleged associates, Tushar Amararam Chaudhary, 29, of Chikhali and Adarsh Santosh Waghmare, 27, of Akurdi, had been arrested earlier. A court has remanded Dasare to police custody until 4 November.

How the racket allegedly worked

• The two associates allegedly opened bank accounts and shared their details, and police say more than 150 such “mule” accounts were arranged.
• Money from victims of share-trading and online task scams was routed into these accounts.
• The associates allegedly withdrew the cash, kept a commission and sent the rest to Dubai-linked accounts through cash deposit machines.
• Dasare allegedly started on a monthly salary of 6,000 dirhams, making calls and sending messages to victims for a 4% commission, later became a partner with a 20% share, and also used international cards from the Chinese suspects to buy expensive goods at malls.

Police say preliminary findings suggest he earned over ₹1 crore. He also faces cases in Hyderabad and at Kalewadi police station.

The investigation began with a search for a group supplying bank accounts for cybercrime. Questioning the associates led police to Dasare, after which a Look Out Circular was issued. Pimpri-Chinchwad police have registered 93 cases linked to bank accounts used in online crimes across the commissionerate, the Free Press Journal reported. The operation was led by Senior Inspector Ravikiran Nale under Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey. Charges include sections 318(4), 317(2), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Never rent out your bank account

Mule accounts are the backbone of most online frauds. People are often offered a small fee to “lend” their account, ATM card or UPI ID, and end up facing criminal cases themselves when stolen money passes through.

Read our earlier report on fake payment app and cash deposit machine fraud in Pune.

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