This is an archive article published on January 12, 2025
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Navi Mumbai resident forges Deputy CM Pawar’s signature to defraud man of Rs 10 lakh, arrested
As per the police, the accused Pravin Sathe, 32, a resident of Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, claimed that he was a government officer and was posted as OSD at the deputy CM's bungalow, Devgiri, in Malabar Hill.
Many people are suspected to have been duped by the accused in a similar way.
The Mumbai police have arrested a 42-year-old Navi Mumbai resident for allegedly forging the signature of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to pose as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and accepting Rs 10 lakh from a man under the pretext of getting his work done from Mantralaya.
According to the Malabar Hill police, Pravin Sathe, 32, is suspected to have been duped many others similarly. They said Sathe, a resident of Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, claimed that he was a government officer and was posted as OSD at the deputy CM’s bungalow, Devgiri, in Malabar Hill.
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Sathe last month allegedly accepted Rs 10 lakh from one person under the pretext of getting his work expedited from the government department.
“When Sathe was unable to do the work despite taking money, he then showed a screenshot of a letterhead of Ajit Pawar with his signature to the person, showing that he was appointed as the OSD to Pawar,” said a senior police officer.
“By forging Pawar’s signature, he allegedly misused the same to accept money from many people. causing financial loss to them,” states the complaint filed by Atul Arvind Shitole, 53, a businessman from Sangavi, Pune, and an NCP activist.
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On Shitole’s complaint, Sathe was arrested under sections 318(4) (cheating), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 336(3) (forgery), 340 (counterfeit seal for forgery), and 316(5) (criminal breach of trust by a broker or agent) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita.
Police are further investigating if Sathe duped other people and if he has any associates.
Many people are suspected to have been duped by the accused in a similar way. 
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