Nagpur: In a major case of financial fraud, the Rana Pratapnagar police have registered an offence against ten accused for duping a Gondia-based youth of over ₹1.73 crore under the pretext of offering a business partnership.

According to the complaint filed by Dipak Ghanshyam Gaydhane (28), a resident of Nagraj Chowk, Civil Lines, Gondia, he came into contact with the prime accused Rohit Aher, a resident of Rana Pratapnagar, while looking for employment. Aher convinced Gaydhane to join him in a business venture promising good profits and gained his trust.

Under the guise of business registration, Aher took Gaydhane’s Aadhaar and PAN card and opened a Bank of Baroda account (Hingna branch) in his name. Subsequently, Aher and his associates — Vaibhav Baghel, Swapnil Shende, Pratik alias Kunal Shende, Rohit Kamble, Sohel Khan, Anand alias Amit Vishwakarma, Abhishek Singh, Ashwin Doghe, and Sumit Patle — allegedly used the account to route ₹1,73,51,871 through online transfers, UPI, RTGS, IMPS, and hawala transactions for their personal gain.

The accused allegedly lured the complainant with false promises of profit and exploited his identity to conduct illegal money transfers. After realizing he had been cheated, Gaydhane approached the police.

Following an inquiry, Rana Pratapnagar police registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS related to cheating and criminal conspiracy. Further investigation is underway.