Mumbai, Maharashtra – In a shocking case of fraud, a woman from Malad and a man from Noida have been arrested by Mumbai’s Crime Branch for allegedly swindling Rs 25 lakh from a Mahim-based politician. The accused duo, Arpita Arvind Sawant (30) and Gaurav Vikram Nanda, have been charged with cheating, forgery, breach of trust, and forging documents.
The incident came to light when Angelo Fernandes (45), a BJP activist from Mahim, reported that he had been duped into paying a significant sum under the false pretense of securing a prestigious post at the National Minority Commission. Fernandes had applied for the position in June 2024, submitting recommendation letters from ministers and senior party leaders in Delhi to support his application.
In August 2024, Fernandes received a phone call from Arpita, who posed as a representative from his party office. She informed him that his application had been assigned to a man named Amit Sharma. However, instead of proceeding with the application, Arpita demanded Rs 50 lakh for the process—Rs 25 lakh for arranging a meeting with senior party leaders and another Rs 25 lakh for a recommendation letter.
Fernandes, believing the scam to be legitimate, paid a part of the sum, amounting to Rs 25 lakh. However, when the promised position and other services never materialized, he realized he had been cheated.
Upon receiving the complaint, the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Mumbai Crime Branch launched a thorough investigation. After gathering substantial evidence, the police arrested Arpita Sawant and Gaurav Nanda, who were found to be involved in the fraudulent scheme. They were taken into custody and charged with several criminal offenses related to the scam.