While looking into what seemed like a normal business deal, police found a serious crime that led to the disappearance and likely murder of Pune businessman Laxman Shinde. He was tricked by a complicated scheme using fake emails that looked like they were from Coal India Limited.
The criminals planned their email scam very carefully. They sent a fake email on April 10, 2025, pretending to be a General Manager from Coal India. In the email, they offered Shinde a big deal worth Rs 100 crore for gun metal and copper casting. They knew a lot about his business and used that to trick him.
Investigators found out that twelve people were involved in this scam, and they’re now in jail. These criminals studied Shinde’s business and how he worked with suppliers before they contacted him. They even created email addresses that looked very real, making it hard to tell that they were fake.
The last time Shinde was in touch was on April 11, 2025, when he talked to his daughter about visiting a coal mine. This made police suspicious because it showed how well the scammers fooled him into thinking their emails were real.
This case has caught the attention of police all over India because it shows a big problem—scams that target business people. While there have been similar scams before, not many have led to possible murder, making this case very important.
The investigation is still going on, with police looking at both the fake emails and any clues about Shinde’s disappearance. This situation shows how important it’s to check business emails carefully and to have strong security when doing big deals online.
