A 36-year-old man from Hingoli, Ganesh Kantrao Pingalkar, has been arrested by the LT Marg Police for allegedly orchestrating a decade-long scam targeting small business owners. Operating under the radar since 2014, Pingalkar is accused of defrauding at least 11 businesses and moving crores of rupees through bank transfers, hawala networks, and cash dealings.
Pingalkar, who currently resides in Mumbai, has no fixed address. Police say he lives in luxury hotels, hires private drivers, and frequently changes locations. In February 2025, he set up a temporary office in Crawford Market, posing as a legitimate supplier of chocolates and cold drinks.
He lured small business owners by offering goods at below-market prices. Portraying himself as a polished professional, Pingalkar insisted on full advance payments, promising to arrange delivery trucks and share tracking updates through drivers.
Police Sub Inspector Kunal Gholap, the investigating officer, said, “He created an illusion of smooth transactions. Drivers would confirm vehicle dispatch, but after receiving payments, he would disappear. No goods were ever delivered.”
The scam’s scope spans over 10 years, with transactions in multiple crores, excluding the undocumented amounts moved through informal cash routes. Police believe there may be more victims who have yet to come forward.
Pingalkar has been booked under relevant sections of the IPC for cheating and criminal breach of trust, and further investigations are underway to trace additional victims and recover stolen funds.
