Pune: The Wakad police on Saturday registered a case against a man from Alibaug in Raigad district on the charge of duping a software engineer (28) of Rs 42.64 lakh by posing as a scientist of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).Inspector Kishor Patil of the Wakad police told TOI that the complainant is a software engineer with a prominent IT firm in Hinjewadi. The woman registered her name on a matrimonial website. The accused, who created a fake profile with the name Jayesh Patil, claimed to be a scientist with ISRO.He came into contact with the woman and proposed her for marriage in Nov 2024. “He also came to Wakad and met the woman. After gaining her trust, the accused started taking money from her citing numerous reasons,” Patil said.The officer said, the man took money from her under the pretext of buying land and property for both of them after marriage. “The man took Rs 42.64 lakh between Nov 2024 and Jan 2025. After the victim realized that the man was not an ISRO scientist, she filed an online complaint against him,” Patil said.The Wakad police team, led by inspector Kishor Patil, swung into action and secured Rs 16.65 lakh out of the total sum. The remaining Rs 27 lakh is yet to be found.Patil said the accused, Jayesh Patil alias Adarsh Mhatre (36) of Alibag, was recently arrested by the Navi Mumbai police in a similar cheating case. Another engineer had lodged a complaint against him. “Police investigations revealed that the accused targeted many educated women. He used their money on a lavish lifestyle and in casinos in Goa,” Patil said.The officer said the accused is in the custody of the Navi Mumbai police till March 4. “We will seek his custody from the court after that,” the officer said.
