A major cyber fraud case has emerged from Pune, where police arrested Abhishek Shukla, who allegedly defrauded a woman of Rs3.6 crore by posing as an Australian doctor on a popular matrimonial website.
Shukla, originally from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and currently residing in Perth, Australia, created a fake identity as Dr. Rohit Oberoi, an Australian doctor of Indian origin. He approached the victim, a Delhi native living in Pune’s Kharadi area, through the platform in 2023.
The woman, who had recently received Rs5 crore as alimony, was seeking a life partner and developed a close relationship with the man she believed to be Dr. Oberoi. Over time, the two even lived together in multiple cities, deepening her trust in him.
Gaining insight into her financial background, Shukla allegedly convinced her that he could help expand her mindfulness and spirituality venture internationally. To make this appear legitimate, he introduced her to fictitious contacts — Evon and Vincent Kuan, allegedly based in Singapore.
Over multiple transactions, the woman transferred Rs3.6 crore to bank accounts in Singapore and India, under the pretext of securing international funding.
In late 2024, Shukla claimed he was suffering from mouth cancer and began avoiding her. Later, she received an email from “Vincent Kuan” stating that Dr. Oberoi had passed away. This raised suspicions, and after consulting a friend, the woman realized she had been conned.
A technical investigation by Pune Cyber Police confirmed that “Dr. Rohit Oberoi” never existed and was, in fact, Abhishek Shukla. Acting swiftly, police issued a Lookout Circular (LOC), and on June 25, 2025, he was arrested at Mumbai airport after arriving from Singapore.
According to Additional Commissioner of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, investigations revealed that Shukla had contacted over 3,000 women using fake identities, suggesting this may be part of a larger web of deception.
Authorities continue to investigate, suspecting more victims across India and abroad.
