Nagpur: A fraudster posing as a senior official in the forest department allegedly duped 19 persons of ₹92.5 lakh by promising contracts and jobs. Police have registered a case of cheating against the accused, identified as Vivek Shyam Kamble (29), a resident of Dwarakanagari in Chinchwad, Pune.The complaint was lodged by Angad Gulab Khaire (39), a resident of Pande Layout on Koradi Road. According to the police, Khaire came into contact with Kamble through a mutual acquaintance. Kamble allegedly introduced himself as a high-ranking officer in the forest department, claiming to be a tender department head who had facilitated multiple contracts in the past. Gaining Khaire’s trust, Kamble assured him of securing contracts from the department.Acting on Kamble’s advice, Khaire established a firm named Dakshita Enterprises. Kamble then informed him that the company was not enlisted with the forest department’s contractor panel and suggested a workaround. He allegedly asked Khaire to procure cables through Sai Enterprises and supply them to another firm as part of the arrangement.Following these assurances, Khaire transferred ₹6.44 lakh into various bank accounts provided by Kamble. However, no contract materialised. When Khaire demanded his money back, Kamble neither returned the amount nor fulfilled his promises.Upon further inquiry, it emerged that Kamble had similarly defrauded 18 other individuals, collectively cheating them of ₹92.5 lakh on the pretext of providing forest department contracts and employment.
