Mumbai Police Intensify Hunt for Demat Account Fraudster
The Mumbai police’s Property Cell is intensifying its search for Bhupendra Mahajan Goyal, 43, accused of masterminding a high-stakes Demat fraud. Despite securing a photograph, the lack of digital or financial trails is making the manhunt challenging.
MumbaiDemat FraudBhupendra GoyalProperty CellCuffe ParadeReal Estate MumbaiJul 29, 2025
Although the police have secured a photograph of Goyal, officials say they currently have no digital or financial trail to track him, making the manhunt challenging. “He has gone completely off the grid,” a senior official said, confirming that the probe is now being handled by the Property Cell under the Crime Branch.
According to the FIR registered at the Cuffe Parade police station on April 14 this year, Goyal forged multiple documents to impersonate the husband of a 48-year-old senior director at a US-based tech firm. She had 31,690 shares of Wipro credited in her Demat account at a private bank in their JP Nagar branch in Bangalore and discovered the fraud in 2022, when she visited the bank to update her KYC details.
Police said Goyal created a full set of counterfeit identity documents in the victim’s name, including an Aadhaar card with a false number, a fake voter ID (she never had one), and a PAN card using her actual PAN number but with a forged photograph and incorrect father’s name. He also generated a lookalike email ID and provided a fake mobile number to complete the profile.
Using these documents, Goyal allegedly opened savings, Demat, and trading accounts in her name at the bank’s Lalbaug branch and its Cuffe Parade office. He then convinced officials that he held a power of attorney on her behalf and had her original Demat account in Bangalore linked to the newly created Mumbai-based accounts.
In December 2019, 7000 shares were transferred from her genuine account, followed by the sale of the remaining 24,690 shares. The proceeds, Rs 75.99 lakh, were first deposited into a bogus savings account at the bank and then moved to an account at another bank located in Powai.
The FIR names several bank officials for allegedly enabling the fraud, including Suraj Kamble, Kundan Kumar, Prashant Bagul, Aditya More, and Deepti Killedar. The submitted documents were reportedly notarised in both Hyderabad and Mumbai to give them legal cover.
The Bombay High Court had earlier pulled up the police and the bank for delays in registering the case, terming it a potential insider job. The court has also directed that the stolen shares be restored to the victim and frozen until further notice.
The accused remains on the run. As per standard procedure, the police have circulated his photograph and details to police departments across all states to aid in the lookout. However, no actionable tip-offs have been received so far. Officers said they have scanned CCTV footage from all possible locations where the accused might have been during the suspected timeline of the crime, based on witness accounts and the panchnama, but with little success. Even technical surveillance has yielded no breakthroughs. Officials say they are now hoping for leads through social media or public assistance, should anyone recognise or spot the accused.
2022 Year fraud came to light
2019 Year shares were fraudulently transferred
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bhupendra Mahajan Goyal?
Bhupendra Mahajan Goyal is a 43-year-old accused of masterminding a high-stakes Demat fraud in Mumbai. He is alleged to have siphoned off Rs 75.99 lakh worth of shares from the bank account of a US-based tech executive by impersonating her husband.
What documents did Goyal forge to commit the fraud?
Goyal forged multiple documents, including an Aadhaar card with a false number, a fake voter ID, a PAN card with a forged photograph and incorrect father’s name, and a lookalike email ID with a fake mobile number.
How did Goyal transfer the shares?
Goyal opened savings, Demat, and trading accounts in the victim’s name at the bank’s Lalbaug branch and its Cuffe Parade office. He then convinced officials that he held a power of attorney on her behalf and linked her original Demat account in Bangalore to the newly created Mumbai-based accounts.
What has the Bombay High Court ordered in this case?
The Bombay High Court has directed that the stolen shares be restored to the victim and frozen until further notice. The court also pulled up the police and the bank for delays in registering the case, terming it a potential insider job.
What are the police doing to find Goyal?
The police have circulated Goyal’s photograph and details to police departments across all states to aid in the lookout. They have also scanned CCTV footage from possible locations and are using social media and public assistance to find leads.
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