Cryptocurrency scam: Crime Branch team nabs kingpin in Pune

 

 

UNIT-II of Crime Branch arrested the kingpin of the cryptocurrency scam racket along with his two accomplices and wife, who had allegedly duped around 2,000 investors in a cryptocurrency ponzi scheme in a fraud estimated at around Rs 40 crore. Three of them were also wanted in a murder case registered at Malegaon Police Station in Washim District last year. Cops seized a pistol, seven live cartridges, worth Rs 40,000, four luxury cars worth Rs one crore, Rs 18,91,210 cash, eight cellphones and a laptop.

 

The accused have been identified as Nishid Mahadeo Wasnik, Pragati Nishid Wasnik, both residents of Waseem Pride Society, Aradhana Nagar, Kharbi; Gajanan Bhalerao Mungune, a resident of Bhisi, Tehsil Chimur, District Chandrapur, and Sandesh Panjab Lanjewar, a resident of Gondegaon Khadan, Kanhan. Addressing a press conference, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar informed reporters that the scammers were absconding since a case was registered against them under Sections 120 (b), 406, 409, 420 of the Indian Penal Code, read with Sections 3 and 4 of Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors Act and 66(d) of the Information Technology Act, against them at Yashodhara Nagar Police Station last year. Crime Branch officers received information that the accused were now hiding in a rented bungalow at Street Valley, Pangoli, near Lonavala, District Pune.

 

The Detection Unit also got the information that the accused persons Nishid Wasnik, Sandesh Lanjewar and Gajanan Mungune had gunned down one Madhav Pawar over some financial dealings at village Pandhrikute, Malegaon, District Washim, after abducting him from Nagpur, last year. Subsequently, Crime Branch officials sent a team of UNIT-II to Pangoli in Pune District. The team trapped the accused quartet and seized a pistol, seven live rounds, four luxury cars, cash, eight cellphone and a laptop collectively worth Rs 1,13,91,210 from them. Additional CP Crime Sunil Phulari, Additional CP North Region Navinchandra Reddy, DCP Detection Dr Akshay Shinde also were present at the press conference. The arrests were made by Senior PI Kishor Parvate, API Pawar, PSI Mohekar, PSI Tambuskar, PSI Balaram Zadokar and staff, including Santosh Madankar, Rajesh Tiwari, Prashant Kodape, Ashish Thakre, Sachin Andhale, Yogesh Gupta, Suraj Bhongale, Suhas Singne, Dipak Chavan, Sunil Kuwar, Ravi Shahu, Sheshrao Raut, Ronald Anthony, Shyam Kadu, Ramnaresh Yadav, Mahendra Sadmake, Kishore Thakre, Hema Bacche, Pravin Randive, Mangal Jadhav, Pravin Chavan and others.