Ajeet Parse arrested; more skeletons likely to tumble

Staff Reporter :

MORE skeletons are likely to tumble out from the closet of master fraudster Ajeet Gunwant Parse with the Crime Branch finally putting him behind bars on Thursday. Investigators produced him before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class and obtained remand for his custodial interrogation till Tuesday. Crime Branch officers arrested the 43-year-old self-styled social media strategist, a resident of Maharshi Mrinal Apartment, Bhende Layout, Khamla, for duping homeopath Dr Rajesh Murkute to the tune of Rs 4.50 crore on the pretext of helping him open a medical college. He had also allegedly honey-trapped Dr Murkute and had also taken money from him on the pretext of providing CSR funds, hushing up a CBI case and closing another criminal matter about adoption of a child by his relative. Following Dr Murkute’s complaint, a case of extortion and cheating was registered against Parse at Kotwali Police Station in October 11 last year. Preliminary investigations revealed that Parse used social media for self promotion and claimed that he had access to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and also to the offices of Union Ministers. After registering offence against Parse, cops seized fake rubber stamps of different police stations, cellphones, four laptops, letterheads bearing names of various ministers, some cheques, 350 gm gold ornaments, three luxury cars and six expensives bikes. Police then sealed his locker and froze his bank accounts.

Investigators are also assessing the wealth amassed by him, his family members and relatives. Initial probe revealed that the accused Parse had allegedly honey-trapped at least 8 to 10 eminent persons, including doctors and bureaucrats, and extorted about Rs 20 crore from them. Dr Murkute was introduced to Parse through a relative in 2019. Parse told him that he had good contacts in PMO and can help him open a college under Niti Aayog. Parse had also sent a copy of fake CBI letter to Dr Murkute on WhatsApp and claimed that the country’s premier investigation agency had issued an arrest warrant against him. He then allegedly extorted around Rs 1.50 crore from Dr Murkute in order to withdraw the warrant. Earlier, police had not arrested him as he was hospitalised and was under treatment for some serious ailment. After his anticipatory bail plea was also turned down, cops took him into custody. Meanwhile, sources informed that some more victims of Parse may approach the police to lodge complaints against him.