Fake ISRO scientist exposed: used to sexually exploit women through matrimonial websites; arrested

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch has arrested a man who posed as an ISRO scientist and a Public Works Department official and allegedly duped and sexually exploited several women by promising them marriage. The accused is 31-year-old Adarsh ​​Prashant Mhatre, a resident of Alibag.

It is alleged that he used over a dozen pseudonyms to lure highly educated women, including engineers and doctors, through several matrimonial websites.

He is also accused of defrauding women of lakhs of rupees. He used 12 fake names, including Swapnil Varule, Nahush Mhatre, Tanmay Mhatre, Jayesh Naik, Jayesh Patil, Rudresh Govekar, Hemant Gaikwad, Rudresh Godhali, Jayesh Sonawane, Aditya Mhatre, Hemant Gondhali and Jay Patil.

Mhatre created accounts on matrimonial sites using fake identity cards of ISRO and Public Works Department (PWD) and uploaded photographs depicting a luxurious lifestyle, including stays in five-star hotels.

According to police, the accused would first establish relationships with the victims under the pretext of marriage. He would then coerce them into taking out loans to invest in property or housing. After the loan amount was transferred to his account, he would disappear. He used this money to live a lavish lifestyle, including trips to casinos in Goa.

In some cases, to avoid suspicion, he used money taken from new victims to repay those owed to previous victims.

The investigation began after a case was registered at the Rabale police station in August 2025. Mhatre was arrested on February 20. Police also arrested his accomplice. A court remanded both to police custody until March 4.

According to an FIR lodged at the Rabale police station, he defrauded four women of ₹96,97,000. Mhatre has a criminal record dating back to 2019. He has cases of fraud, forgery, and molestation registered against him at police stations in Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad.

He has currently been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 64 (rape), 69 (sexual intercourse on the basis of false promise of marriage), 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by impersonation).

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