In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police have arrested a top wanted criminal, Dattatray Ganpati Mohite, from Raigad district in Maharashtra , for allegedly duping thousands of investors for Rs 20 Crore  through a fake housing project in real estate scam, police said on Friday. The cyber cell of Delhi Police has conducted a 25 days long on-ground operation to trace and arrest the accused. The officers impersonated and lived for 15 days in his nearby society to trace him. And, 10 more days to subsequently nab him from his house. The officer said. Mohite, 56, was carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000 and had been evading arrest for several years and was declared a Proclaimed Offender (PO) in four major FIRs registered with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police and one at Amar Colony police station. He was involved in large-scale cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy, with a fraudulent scheme centered around the fictitious Pragati Valley Project in Karjat and Navi Mumbai. Operating through his company, Pragati Land & Housing Corporation, and in collusion with over 70 fake estate agents, Mohite launched an aggressive marketing campaign in Delhi, luring people with false promises of land ownership, quick returns, and government approvals. Victims were tricked into paying through cheques and cash, collectively amounting to over Rs 20 crore. However, investigations later revealed that no land was owned by the firm, no official permissions were in place, and the entire project was a sham. By 2010, the firm had shut down and the directors, including Mohite, had gone underground. A dedicated team from the Cyber Cell of Delhi Polices Crime Branch, led by Inspector Manjeet Kumar under the supervision of ACP Anil Sharma and overall guidance of DCP Aditya Gautam, undertook a week-long surveillance operation to track the fugitive. Officers disguised themselves as local contractors, including carpenters, and worked closely with local informers in Raigad to gather actionable intelligence. On June 18, 2025, after verifying his location in the jurisdiction of Karjat Police Station, the team conducted a well-coordinated raid and arrested Mohite under Section 35(1)(D) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). He was presented before a local court in Raigad and a transit remand was obtained to bring him to Delhi. All cases against him involve serious charges of cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust. A cash reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced by the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, in connection with one of these cases. Further investigation is underway to identify Mohites co-accused and unravel the wider network behind the scam.

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