The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Nagpur Rural police has apprehended Sachin Karemore, aged 40, identified as a significant member of an interstate gang involved in a fraudulent scheme. This group is accused of illegally securing agricultural loans totaling Rs73.82 crore from a nationalised bank by falsifying documents in the names of vulnerable, uneducated farmers. The investigation highlights the exploitation of these individuals, who often lack the resources to defend themselves against such fraudulent activities.
Police said the gang would approach farmers claiming they would get Rs10,000 a year as govt compensation for crop damage if they opened accounts in a nationalised bank. So far, 16 cases have been registered at Mauda and Ramtek police stations. Acting on information that Karemore, a resident of Neri in Mohadi tehsil of Bhandara district, was preparing to flee Maharashtra, a team led by police inspector Yogesh Kamale laid a trap and nabbed him from Nagpur Railway Station area. The money was transferred to shell companies floated by Karemore. EOW teams are searching for the remaining members of the interstate syndicate.
Investigation, under Senior SP Harssh A Poddar and Addl SP Anil Mhaske, revealed that the accused obtained fake warehouse licences from Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority in Delhi and pledged the forged electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipts to avail loans under Produce Marketing Loan scheme. Karemore already faces paddy scam cases in Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Aheri. The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court cancelled his anticipatory bail last month after he remained absconding for several months.