The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Crime Branch has filed a charge sheet against businessman Purushottam Chavan, husband of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rashmi Karandikar, for allegedly duping a Surat-based textile trader of R7.42 crore. Chavan allegedly lured the trader with a fake contract to supply T-shirts and hoodies to the Maharashtra Police Academy.
Karandikar, currently posted with the Civil Defence and Home Guards Department of Maharashtra Police, has denied any involvement and claimed innocence. In a written statement submitted to the EOW (a copy of which is with mid-day), Karandikar said she had no control over the bank or Demat accounts allegedly linked to the fraud. “I am a victim of my husband, who misused my hard-earned money,” she stated, adding that she has no connection to the Maharashtra Police Academy in Nashik. Karandikar further clarified that she owns no movable or immovable property jointly with her husband and had no role in the funds deposited in ICICI Bank or Motilal Oswal accounts.
The IPS officer also highlighted that she has visited the Nashik Police Academy only two to three times to deliver lectures and has never been part of its tender committee. Representation pic/istock
“In fact, I suffered financial losses due to my husband’s misuse of money I earned through hard work. I did not pursue the matter earlier because of his serious medical condition [bipolar disorder],” she added. The IPS officer also highlighted that she has visited the Nashik Police Academy only two to three times to deliver lectures and has never been part of its tender committee. “To the best of my knowledge, tenders are processed online, with all details published. I have never been part of any such process,” she said.
According to the FIR, complainant Rausaheb Desai, a Surat-based textile businessman, was allegedly duped by Chavan and his associates between 2015 and 2024. While Karandikar stressed that Desai was her husband’s business partner in three firms, she claimed she had no knowledge of their partnership or transactions.
Karandikar stated that she was never a partner or director in any of Chavan’s firms and had very limited knowledge of his business activities. She also denied any connection to the property transactions, government flat dealings, or individuals named in the FIR.
Karandikar has already filed for divorce at the Bandra family court last year, citing mental cruelty, financial harassment, incompatibility, her husband’s bipolar disorder, and concealment of financial dealings.
Bogus officials
During the probe, police uncovered fake letterheads of the Thane Municipal Corporation and Pune Municipal Corporation that had been handed to victims. Verification by the EOW confirmed that the officials named on these letterheads were non-existent.
Similarly, the “sub-registrar” and “deputy director” of the Maharashtra Police Academy mentioned in documents were fictitious posts, with forged signatures of non-existent persons. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing a Rs 263-crore fraud case, also recovered forged documents from Chavan, further exposing the scam.
Previous cases
This is not Chavan’s first brush with the law
>> He was earlier accused of cheating 20 people of R24.78 crore by promising government quota flats in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune at discounted rates.
>> Chavan had earlier allegedly duped Desai of R7.42 crore with fake promises of government plots, municipal GRC certificates, and Police Academy contracts.
