Mumbai Crime: Police Constable Booked For ₹16 Lakh Loan Fraud Using Fellow Cop's Forged ID And Signature

Mumbai: The Bhoiwada Police have booked Police Constable Sunil Namdev Patil on charges of fraudulently obtaining a Rs 16 lakh loan from the Mumbai Police Society by allegedly misusing the identity of a fellow constable without his knowledge.

The case was registered on July 14 following a complaint by Police Constable Diliprao Vithoba Rathod, 48, who alleged that Patil used his lost ID card and forged signature to falsely present him as a guarantor for the loan. The fraud came to light when Rathod received a default notice from the Police Society in April 2021.

According to the FIR, Rathod, a resident of Kalyan (West), is currently deployed at Crime Unit 7, Ghatkopar, as a driver. After serving in the Indian Army for 20 years, he joined the Mumbai Police in 2016. Rathod and Patil had developed a friendship during their training at the Akola Police Training Centre, both being ex-army personnel.

In 2018, Patil requested Rathod to stand as guarantor for a Rs 12 lakh loan from the Mumbai Police Society. Rathod agreed and provided a photocopy of his ID along with a signature on the loan documents. However, on January 15, 2020, Patil reportedly took a fresh loan of Rs 16 lakh from the same society without Rathod's knowledge.

On April 27, 2021, Rathod received a loan default notice from the society, revealing he had been listed as the guarantor. Upon inquiry, Rathod discovered that the loan application contained his forged signature and a photocopy of the ID card he had reported missing in 2019.

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When confronted, Patil allegedly promised to repay the entire amount by February 2025 but failed to do so despite multiple extensions. With no resolution in sight, Rathod finally lodged a formal complaint at the Bhoiwada Police Station. Patil has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for forgery, cheating, and criminal breach of trust.

Further investigation is underway.