Mumbai Scam: 62-Year-Old Conman Under Malad Police’s Custody for Looting Senior Citizens at Banks

A senior citizen accused of cheating other elderlypeople has been taken into custody by the Malad police. The accused, identified as Brijkumar Santoshkumar Wadhwani, 62, is a habitual offender. He allegedly posed as a ‘helpful social worker’ to cheat senior citizens and loot their hard-earned savings. This is not the first time the police have arrested Wadhwani. Last month, he was arrested by Bolinj police in a similar case. Police described him as a professional conman. Multiple cases of scamming people are registered against him across several cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat. When Malad police were informed about the conman’s arrest, Sub-Inspector Jakalwad took custody of Wadhwani in a cheating case of Rs 3 lakh registered at Malad police station.

Wadhwani was produced before the court and was sent to judicial custody. Police is investigating the case and are trying to locate more victims. Wandwani has scammed several people in Amravati, Bhusawal, Wardha, Gondia, and Vadodara. He is originally from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and does not live with his family. He travels across states, does a recce of banks, and targets senior citizens inside the banks. He loots people by posing as a helpful assistant or social worker. After stealing the money, he uses it to stay in hotels and gamble. To secure bail, he frequently acts as if he is frail or ill to secure bail.

Police seized a mobile phone worth Rs 25,500 and cash from his bank account amounting to Rs 1,51,287.

Wadhwani’s Malad Fraud Case:A 72-year-old complainant had invested Rs 7 lakh in a senior citizen’s fixed deposit scheme at a nationalised bank branch on SV Road in 2018. After the FD matured on January 1, 2026, the complainant went to the bank along with his son to transfer the amount. Wadhwani befriended the complainant inside the bank. He filled his withdrawal slips and took a cheque from the victim, and accompanied him to the cashier, where they withdrew Rs 3 lakh. He told the 72-year-old man that his bag was too flimsy and he convinced him to keep the cash in his own bag. While taking the cash from him he distracted the complainant by asking him to write his name and address on paper and later he fled with Rs 3 lakh cash

Wadhwani’s Virar Fraud Case:On January 8, at the Virar West branch of the same bank, Wadhwani gained the confidence of an elderly customer. He convinced him to take out Rs 2 lakh from his account under the pretext of transferring funds. Instead of transferring the money, he scammed him by fleeing with the cash. A case was registered against him at the Bolinj police station.