Luring people to invest in different schemes of the India Post, the duo had collected Rs 2,25,58,400 from them 

 

MASQUERADING as an India Post agent, a middle-aged man in connivance with his wife, allegedly duped investors of over Rs 2.25 crore by promising huge returns on recurring and fixed deposits. Hingna Police booked accused Pradeep Kisan Khangar (55) and his wife Vandana Khangar (48), both residents of Raipur-Hingna, on charges of cheating by personation, criminal breach of trust and forgery. Pradeep Khangar’s wife had taken an agency from India Post. However, Pradeep Khangar posed himself as an agent of India Post and defrauded several depositors. One of the victims, Nalini Purshottam Tambulkar (52), a resident of Plot No 165, Mahajan Wadi, in her complaint alleged that Pradeep Khangar himself impersonated as an agent of India Post and approached her in 2021.

 

He lured her and several others to invest in different schemes of the India Post, including the recurring and fixed deposit schemes, by promising good returns on maturity. After Khangar convinced Nalini Tambulkar that her money would be safe in the post office, she opted for the recurring and fixed deposit schemes. Pradeep Khangar then started going door-to-door, meeting depositors, filling up their forms, taking signatures and taking money from them. From October 22, 2021 to June 27,2024, the Khangar couple collected Rs 2,25,58,400 from Nalini Tambulkar and other depositors.

 

She and other depositors got suspicious when they did not get their money after maturity. When they approached the postmaster, they were shocked to hear from him that they had no account at the post office. On the basis of the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 406, 409, 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, read with Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, against Pradeep and Vandana Khangar. Further investigations are underway.