A fraud case involving members of the Marathi film industry has come to light, with actress Varsha Usgaonkar reportedly among the victims. She is also familiar to Telugu audiences for acting opposite Superstar Krishna in Raktha Tharpanam (1992).
According to the Mumbai Police, several individuals were allegedly cheated of nearly ₹47 lakh by a man who presented himself as a film producer and builder.
The accused has been identified as Avinash Jadhav. Police say he introduced himself as a reputed builder and film producer and convinced people to invest in a construction project in Dombivli.
A complaint has been registered at the Shivaji Park Police Station, and an investigation is currently underway.
According to the complaint, the primary complainant is actress Mrunalini Subhash Jambhale, who is active in Marathi theatre and films.
Police say Mrunalini Subhash Jambhale knew Avinash Jadhav professionally. He allegedly persuaded her to invest in the project by promising high returns and assuring that the principal amount would be returned within a year.
Between November 2019 and February 2020, Mrunalini Subhash Jambhale, Varsha Usgaonkar, and three others reportedly transferred a total of ₹47 lakh to Avinash Jadhav through cheques and online transactions.
Investigators say the accused initially returned about ₹4.52 lakh. This partial repayment allegedly helped build trust among the investors.
However, the payments reportedly stopped later. When the victims tried to contact him, Avinash Jadhav allegedly changed his mobile number and address.
The complainants also stated that when they travelled to Dombivli to confront him, he allegedly threatened them and refused to return the money.
Police have registered the case under IPC Sections 420 and 506, which relate to cheating and criminal intimidation. Authorities are also examining whether more people may have been targeted in a similar manner.
