Pune and Solapur reported a significant number of financial fraud cases in Maharashtra last year, according to data shared by the state Home Department. Pune city recorded 22,059 fraud cases, with total losses amounting to Rs 5,122.66 crore.

The district as a whole reported 42,802 cases, including 16,115 in Pimpri-Chinchwad (Rs 3,291.25 crore in losses) and 4,628 in Pune Rural (Rs 434.35 crore in losses).

Solapur district saw 3,457 cases of financial fraud, with total losses reaching Rs 394.54 crore.

In total, Maharashtra reported 2,19,047 cases of financial fraud in 2024, involving a staggering Rs 38,872.14 crore. Mumbai topped the list with 51,873 cases and a loss of Rs 12,404.12 crore. Nashik district also saw a high number of cases, with 9,169 incidents reported, including 6,381 in Nashik city and 2,788 in Nashik Rural, resulting in a total loss of Rs 1,047.32 crore.

Authorities urge people to stay vigilant

Authorities have urged people to stay vigilant and report any suspicious financial transactions to prevent further fraud.

Recently, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar presented the 'Pune Police Annual Crime Report 2024.' He offered a detailed comparison of crime statistics, covering murders, rapes, cheating, and more, over the last few years. He spoke about the measures Pune Police took in 2024 to combat crime in the city and also unveiled the vision for 2025.

Crimes like cheating, rape, and molestation saw an increase in 2024, according to the data. In 2024, 2,101 cheating cases were registered, compared to 1,108 in 2023. These cases included cyber crimes, economic offences, land grabbing, etc.

Kumar mentioned that there was an increase in cases of rape and molestation "due to prompt and free registration of offences related to women."