A 42-year-old woman from Mumbai has fallen victim to a Rs 17.73 lakh online fraud after being lured through a matrimonial website with false promises of marriage and government housing benefits.
The complainant, Megha Anand Ugle, a graphic designer residing in Mulund (East), registered on Jeevansathi after her divorce in 2012. On October 18, 2025, she accepted a marriage request from an ID linked to Viraj Balasaheb Bhosale (45) of Talegaon Dabhade, Pune. Bhosale soon contacted her by phone, claiming he had influential family connections, political ties, and ran a Pune-based NGO.
Bhosale convinced Ugle that he could help her secure a subsidized house in Mumbai through CSR funds, the Nirbhaya Fund, and other government schemes, but she had to take three personal loans and pay an advance of Rs 7 lakh. Trusting him, Ugle transferred a total of Rs 17.73 lakh between October 20–26, 2025, including Rs 5.60 lakh initially and three personal loans amounting to Rs 12.13 lakh.
After receiving the money, Bhosale allegedly avoided her calls, threatened her, and claimed police and political protection, preventing any immediate action. Suspicious, Ugle checked Bhosale’s Facebook profile, where comments indicated several others had been similarly defrauded. She subsequently filed a complaint at the Navghar police station.
Police are investigating the matter under relevant cybercrime and fraud provisions, aiming to trace Bhosale and recover the defrauded funds.
