States » WestPosted at: Oct 16 2026 11:01PM


Pune engineer dies by suicide after alleged extortion by fake police officers

Pune, Oct 16 (UNI) A 22-year-old engineer allegedly died by suicide after cyber fraudsters, posing as police officers, threatened to implicate him in a drug trafficking case and extorted money from him, police said.
Shikhar Saxena, a native of Uttarakhand, allegedly jumped from the 27th floor of a building in Pune's Kharadi area.
He was living in a paying guest accommodation and had joined a company in Hadapsar in July as an Advanced Engineering Analyst.
Police registered an FIR against two unidentified persons at Kharadi police station on Wednesday, following a complaint by Saxena's father, Kumar Gaurav Saxena, 46. The accused have been booked under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 308(6) (extortion) and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with other relevant provisions.
Investigators suspect the accused may be cybercriminals involved in a 'drugs-in-parcel' scam, in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to threaten victims with arrest. The suspects allegedly pressured Saxena into transferring money to multiple bank accounts through online transactions.
The family found screenshots on Saxena's laptop after his last rites indicating that he had transferred money on September 29 to different bank accounts associated with a person identified as 'Ajay Kumar'.
On October 13, Saxena's father received a call from an unidentified person claiming to work at a courier office and asking about his son. The caller disconnected after the father sought details about the courier.
The father returned to Pune on October 14 and lodged a police complaint, alleging that his son had been repeatedly threatened with a fabricated drug case and coerced into making payments.
Saxena had completed his BTech from the National Institute of Technology in Himachal Pradesh and secured his first job through campus placement. His father, a government officer with the Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam, demanded swift action against those responsible.
I want justice for my son. He was a talented and promising young man. This was his first job, and the culprits should be arrested as soon as possible, he said.
Investigating officer Santosh Mhetre said cyber fraud is likely an angle, but police are examining all possibilities.
Senior Inspector Sanjay Chavan stated that preliminary investigations indicated that the accused are not police personnel. Investigators are tracing the mobile numbers and bank accounts allegedly used in the extortion and searching for suspects believed to be based outside Maharashtra.
Saxena's mobile phone is password-protected, and police are attempting to unlock it to retrieve further evidence. Investigators are also trying to establish how the suspects came into contact with him.
UNI SP ATP RN
Tags: #Pune engineer dies by suicide after alleged extortion by fake police officers
More News

Minister Nitesh Rane launches anti-Halal certification 'Chanda Te Banda' campaign

17 Oct 2026 | 12:15 AM

Kolhapur/ Sindhudurg, Oct 16 (UNI) Making a strong statement regarding Hindu identity and unity, state Minister Nitesh Rane launched the anti-halal certification 'Chanda Te Banda' campaign in Sindhudurg district today.
Rane, who is also Sindhudurg district guardian minister, formally initiated the movement against halal certification in Sindhudurg, calling upon the Hindu community to unite and demanding a shift toward alternative certification models such as Malhar certification.

see more..

First hearing in TCS case suspect Nida Khan’s divorce petition concludes; Next hearing on Nov 20

17 Oct 2026 | 12:00 AM

Nashik, Oct 16 (UNI) The first hearing in the divorce petition involving Nida Khan, a suspect in the widely discussed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) case, was held at the Family Court in Nashik Road today.
As directed by the court, counselling for both parties -- Nida Khan and her husband Moin Khan -- was completed during the hearing.

see more..

Pune Graduates’ constituency heats up as MVA’s Harshada Deshmukh targets Mahayuti's Smita Jadhav

16 Oct 2026 | 11:13 PM

Pune, Oct 16 (UNI) Political activity in the Pune Graduates’ constituency is gathering momentum, with Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Harshada Jadhav Deshmukh taking aim at Mahayuti candidate, Smita Jadhav, over election preparedness.

see more..

Pune engineer dies by suicide after alleged extortion by fake police officers

16 Oct 2026 | 11:01 PM

Pune, Oct 16 (UNI) A 22-year-old engineer allegedly died by suicide after cyber fraudsters, posing as police officers, threatened to implicate him in a drug trafficking case and extorted money from him, police said.

see more..

Pune: Wadgaon Budruk residents oppose service road work, warn of agitation

16 Oct 2026 | 10:46 PM

Pune, Oct 16 (UNI) Strongly objecting to the ongoing service road construction near Sun City and Raghunandan Hall in Wadgaon Budruk along the Bengaluru–Mumbai National Highway, Manoj Shankar Dangat, speaking on behalf of Samasta Vadgaon Gavkari, has warned that residents will launch an agitation if the authorities fail to address their concerns.

see more..