Pune ₹2 crore embezzlement accused held in Nashik after going absconding
Synopsis
A senior sales manager accused of siphoning ₹2 crore from 32 homebuyers in Pune's Ganga Fernhill housing project was tracked to a Nashik hotel room and arrested — just days after going absconding and switching off his phone to dodge police.
Key Takeaways
Simon Ronnie Peter , 42, Senior Sales Manager of the Ganga Fernhill project in Pune, was arrested in Nashik on 16 June 2026 .
He allegedly diverted approximately ₹2 crore collected from 32 customers to a fraudulent private bank account belonging to associate B.
The case ( Crime No.
257/2026 ) was registered at Kalepadal Police Station, Pune on 9 June 2026 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 .
Peter was traced to Room No.
301, Hotel Treebo Sapphire , Kalenagar, Nashik, after switching off his phone to evade arrest.
The inter-city operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Ashok Sharmale of Gangapur Police Station , Nashik.
An absconding accused in a ₹2 crore embezzlement case linked to a Pune housing project was arrested in Nashik, Maharashtra on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, following a coordinated inter-city police operation. The arrest ends a brief but deliberate bid by the accused to evade law enforcement after switching off his mobile phone post-arrest warrant.
The Alleged Fraud
According to a complaint filed by Kiran Dadasaheb Shinde, 38, with Pune police, Simon Ronnie Peter, 42, was employed as Senior Sales Manager and entrusted with flat sales across four buildings — A, B, C, and D — of the 'Ganga Fernhill' residential project. Instead of depositing proceeds from flat sales into the company's designated account, Peter allegedly diverted the funds to a fraudulent private bank account belonging to his associate, B. Chandrashekhar. The total amount allegedly embezzled stands at approximately ₹2 crore, collected from 32 customers.
Case Registration and Abscondence
A case was registered at Pune's Kalepadal Police Station on 9 June 2026 under Crime No. 257/2026, invoking relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Shortly after the case was filed, Peter went absconding and switched off his mobile phone to evade detection — a move that triggered an active inter-district search.
How Nashik Police Tracked Him Down
During the investigation, Pune's Kalepadal Police Station received credible intelligence that Peter had fled to Nashik city. Officials contacted Senior Police Inspector Ashok Sharmale of Gangapur Police Station, Nashik, seeking assistance. Acting on the tip, Sharmale's team established that Peter had arrived in Nashik by car and was staying in Room No. 301 of Hotel Treebo Sapphire in Kalenagar on Gangapur Road.
A Crime Investigation Team led by officer Ghanshyam Bhoye was immediately deployed to the location. The team detained Peter and subsequently handed him over to the Pune police for further legal proceedings.
The Arrest Team
The operation was carried out under the leadership of Senior Police Inspector Ashok Sharmale of Gangapur Police Station. The team included Assistant Sub-Inspector Tushar Deore and Police Head Constables Ravindra Mohite, Girish Mahale, Bhagwat Thavil, Ghanshyam Bhoye, Pravin Kedare, Gorakh Salunke, Sujit Jadhav, and Tulshidas Chaudhary.
What Happens Next
Peter has been handed over to Pune police and is expected to face formal proceedings before a magistrate. His associate B. Chandrashekhar, in whose private bank account the funds were allegedly routed, remains a key figure in the ongoing investigation. The 32 affected customers of the Ganga Fernhill project are likely to be examined as witnesses as the case proceeds.
Point of View
Not just individual misconduct. As real estate transactions increasingly move through informal payment channels, homebuyer exposure to this kind of fraud remains underreported and underpoliced. The swift inter-district coordination between Pune and Nashik police is commendable, but the deeper question — whether the 32 affected buyers will recover their money — remains unanswered.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Simon Ronnie Peter and what is he accused of?
Simon Ronnie Peter, 42, was the Senior Sales Manager for the Ganga Fernhill housing project in Pune. He is accused of allegedly diverting approximately ₹2 crore collected from 32 customers into a fraudulent private bank account belonging to his associate B. Chandrashekhar, instead of depositing the funds into the company's account.
Where and when was the accused arrested?
Peter was arrested on 16 June 2026 at Hotel Treebo Sapphire in Kalenagar, Nashik, where he was staying in Room No. 301 after fleeing Pune. He had switched off his mobile phone to evade detection following the registration of the case.
What is Crime No. 257/2026 and under which law was it filed?
Crime No. 257/2026 is the case registered at Kalepadal Police Station, Pune on 9 June 2026 against Simon Ronnie Peter. It was filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, following a complaint by Kiran Dadasaheb Shinde.
Who led the arrest operation in Nashik?
The operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Ashok Sharmale of Gangapur Police Station, Nashik, assisted by ASI Tushar Deore and several Police Head Constables including Ghanshyam Bhoye, Ravindra Mohite, and others. Peter was subsequently handed over to Pune police.
What happens to the 32 affected homebuyers?
Peter has been handed over to Pune police for further legal proceedings. The 32 customers who paid money toward flats in the Ganga Fernhill project are expected to be examined as witnesses. Whether and how they recover their funds will depend on the outcome of the investigation and any judicial orders on asset recovery.
