Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police arrested two in connection with cyber fraud
Pune: A final-year homeopathy student, who was arrested in a cybercrime case in 2024, allegedly formed a network of criminals while lodged in Yerawada Central Prison and, after his release seven months ago, resumed supplying mule bank accounts to cybercrooks. The Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police arrested the accused and his accomplice in connection with a cyber fraud in which a 60-year-old retired deputy general manager of an automotive company lost Rs86 lakh. During the investigation, police found that the accused, Avinash Baklikar (28), and his accomplices were operating eight bank accounts and using them as mule accounts to facilitate cybercrimes. Police also arrested another accused, Tajas Lokhande (24), from Markal village near Alandi. “Baklikar was lodged in Yerawada prison after being arrested in Nov 2024 in connection with an online share trading fraud of Rs60 lakh.
Between June and July this year, the complainant, a resident of Pimpri, lost Rs86 lakh to cybercrooks in an online share trading fraud. During his custodial interrogation, Lokhande revealed Baklikar’s name.
“We found that Lokhande was lodged in Yerawada prison in connection with the abduction and extortion case,” an officer from the Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police said. Assistant police inspector Pravin Swami of the Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police said API Vaibhav Patil and his team traced Lokhande and arrested him. he hatched a plan to obtain mule bank accounts for cybercrooks and earn money,” Swami said While in prison.
Lokhande, who was arrested in an abduction and extortion case registered with the Hinjewadi police, came into contact with Baklikar while lodged in Yerawada prison. A Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police team led by inspector Digambar Gaikwad made the arrests. During the investigation, police found that Rs5 lakh had been transferred to a bank account operated by Lokhande.