Shocking! Man with Rs. 13,000 salary nets Rs. 21 crore scam

A shocking case of fraud has come to light in Maharashtra, where a 23-year-old man allegedly embezzled Rs. 21 crores from one state-run sports complex. Harshal Kumar Kshirsagarcomputer operator at the divisional sports complex Chhatrapati Sambhajinagarcarried out this elaborate scam while earning only ₹13,000 per month. He used the stolen money to splurge on luxury cars, a 4 BHK apartment for his girlfriend and other expensive items, as reported by various online media sources.
The method Harshal used to embezzle the funds was surprisingly simple, but very effective. As reported by media sources, according to police, he used old letterhead from the sports complex to send an email to the bank, requesting a change to the official email address linked to the account banking complex. The new email address was almost identical to the original, with only one letter changed, making it difficult for the bank to notice the difference. This allowed Harshal to access the account and intercept important details such as one-time passwords (OTPs), which were crucial for making transactions.

Once he took control of the account, Harshal activated Internet banking and began transferring large sums of money. Between July 1 and December 7, 2024, he is accused of transferring Rs 21.6 crore to 13 different bank accounts, as reported by media sources.
According to reports, Harshal wasted no time in indulging in a life of luxury. Investigators revealed he spent a significant portion of the stolen money on high-end purchases. He bought a BMW car worth Rs 1.2 crore, an SUV worth Rs 1.3 crore and a BMW motorcycle for Rs 32 lakh. But the expenses don’t stop there. Harshal also purchased a 4BHK apartment near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport for his girlfriend, using the misappropriated funds. As an added gesture, he even bought her a pair of diamond-studded glasses.

According to media sources, the scam was discovered when an athletic department official spotted irregularities in financial records. This resulted in a formal complaint and investigation. So far, police have arrested two people – Harshal’s colleague Yashoda Shetty and her husband BK Jeevan – who are suspected of helping him in the fraud. However, Harshal is still missing and the police are working hard to trace him.
“Two accused have been arrested, one is on the run. Investigation revealed that he bought a BMW car and bike, a luxury apartment and also ordered gold jewelry. Our teams are searching the main accused”, declared the high police. Officer Prashant Kadam, according to a report presented by NDTV.

According to media reports, police believe Harshal did not act alone and are investigating other people who may have been involved in the fraud. They are also investigating the bank accounts into which the stolen money was transferred. So far, they have seized the luxury cars and the apartment Harshal bought with the money. The investigation continues and more evidence is being collected.