Mumbai: Two businessmen from Pune were duped of ₹25 lakh in Mumbai’s Chembur area after being lured with an offer to buy ₹50 lakh worth of genuine currency notes at half the value. The incident took place on April 30, and a case has been registered at Nehru Nagar police station against Pravin Mungse, Dashrath Lohote, Mukund Jha, and their accomplices.
According to the complaint filed by 43-year-old Santosh Khambe, a land dealer from Pune, he and his partner Amit Karande were approached by Pravin Mungse, who promised to provide ₹50 lakh in legal tender for ₹25 lakh. Trusting the offer, the duo travelled to Mumbai on April 30 with the cash.
Mungse met them in Chembur and introduced Lohote as his associate. The group then drove to Surbhi Hotel at Swastik Chambers, where they met Mukund Jha. The trio informed Khambe and Karande that a third party would soon deliver the promised notes.
Later in the evening, two unknown individuals arrived and got into the car with the businessmen, claiming they would complete the deal at a nearby office. While en route, they asked to stop the car on the Eastern Express Highway to check the cash.
At that moment, another vehicle approached, and men carrying batons—resembling police gear—exited, shouting “Police! Police!” Startled by the commotion, Khambe and Karande watched as the fake cops took possession of the ₹25 lakh cash bag and drove away with the two unidentified men.
Realizing they had been conned, the businessmen attempted to chase the fleeing vehicle but failed to trace it. They subsequently lodged a complaint at the Nehru Nagar police station. Police have registered a case and launched a manhunt for the accused.
