The MIDC Police have arrested a Pune-based travel agent in connection with a cheating and criminal breach of trust case. The accused has been identified as Sandeepkumar Shivkumar Jaiswal (45), a resident of Hinjewadi–Wakad, Pune. He is currently in police custody in the same case, officials said.
According to the police, Jaiswal is accused of misappropriating money collected for visa processing from a doctor and his friends under the pretext of arranging an overseas trip.
The complainant, Pravas Sahu (49), is a businessman residing with his family in the Marol area of Andheri. He runs a private company where his wife also serves as a director. Sahu shares close family relations for the past six years with Dr. Chander Prem Singh, a practising doctor.
Dr. Singh and his family were planning a vacation to Vietnam and had invited Sahu and his family to join them. The trip was said to be arranged by Shri Sai Travels, following which Sahu was provided the contact number of the firm’s owner, Sandeepkumar Jaiswal. Sahu subsequently contacted Jaiswal to enquire about the tour details.
Jaiswal informed him that he would arrange bookings and visas for Sahu, his wife, Dr. Singh and their respective family members. Acting on his assurance, Sahu forwarded his and his wife’s passports to Jaiswal and paid approximately ₹8.25 lakh towards visa processing for himself and the doctor’s family.
However, when Sahu contacted Jaiswal in November 2025, the latter claimed that the visas had not yet been issued and would be received shortly. On multiple occasions, Jaiswal allegedly gave different reasons to delay the process. Growing suspicious, Sahu approached another travel agency, which informed him that visas are usually processed within 20 days.
Despite repeated demands, Jaiswal failed to return the money. Police said he misappropriated the funds collected for visa processing, thereby cheating the complainant.
Following a complaint lodged at the MIDC Police Station, an offence of cheating and criminal breach of trust was registered against Jaiswal after preliminary verification. Senior officers took serious note of the matter and ordered a detailed investigation.
Subsequently, Jaiswal was detained for questioning, during which he confessed to misappropriating the money and cheating the complainant, police added. Further investigation in the case is underway.