Navi Mumbai police arrest fake journalist over housing scam worth 19 lakh rupees

Navi Mumbai Police have arrested a man who pretended to be a journalist on social media and cheated people out of 19 lakh rupees by promising them cheap houses in Ulwe. The accused man is named Shailendra Dev Prakash Dwivedi. Police stated that he is also wanted in several other criminal cases across Maharashtra.

Details of Arrest

Dwivedi was caught at a hotel in Lonavala in Pune district just after midnight on November 12. Investigators tracked him down using technical analysis after he had been hiding since a case was filed against him on October 7 at the Ulwe police station. Police charged him under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal breach of trust and cheating. A court has sent him to police custody for four days. Officials also stated that he used social media, including Twitter, to threaten police officers while he was running away from the law.

Criminal History

According to police records, Dwivedi faces multiple First Information Reports registered across Maharashtra starting from 2023. These cases include charges of murder, attempted murder, extortion, Arms Act violations, gutkha-related offences, and inciting communal feelings. Police stations where he was wanted, such as Rabale MIDC, Kalwa, and NRI Sagari, have been informed about his arrest, and further investigation is currently going on.

Context

Fraudsters often use fake identities on social media to build trust and lure victims with promises of below-market property deals. Police tracking methods like technical analysis rely on digital footprints to locate suspects who try to hide across different districts.