In a swift crackdown, Pune’s Samarth Police apprehended two men from Uttar Pradesh for defrauding a senior citizen at an ATM in Rasta Peth. The accused, Santoshkumar Kishorilal Saroj (28) and Pradeepkumar Nandkishor Maurya (26), both residents of Pratapgarh district, were caught after a trap was set near ATMs in Rasta Peth and Somwar Peth.
The arrests followed a recent case where the duo fraudulently withdrew Rs1,000 from a senior citizen’s account by tricking him at the ATM. Investigation revealed the pair had committed similar scams in the Warje area, where a case is also registered.
Senior Police Inspector Umesh Gite explained that the accused used a metal strip to jam the ATM’s cash dispenser, causing it to malfunction. When users, mostly elderly, walked away assuming a fault, the duo removed the strip and stole the cash.
The operation was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingale and Assistant Commissioner Anuja Deshmane, with crucial support from officers including Inspector Chetan More, Sub-Inspector Jalindar Fadtere, and several constables.
Police have advised the public, especially senior citizens, to exercise caution while using ATMs and to immediately seek help if machines appear faulty.
