Maharashtra man steals Rs 21 crore from employer, spends on luxury items and gifts

A 23-year-old man from Maharashtra has been accused of siphoning off Rs 21 crore from his employer's bank account, using the money to purchase luxury items, including cars, diamonds, and even a flat for his girlfriend. Harshal Kumar Kshirsagar, a computer operator at a state-run sports complex, is now on the run after committing the financial fraud. Despite earning a monthly salary of just Rs 13,000, Kshirsagar managed to steal a significant sum by exploiting a loophole in the system.

Also Read: Bengaluru loses ₹1,800 crore to cybercrimes in 2024, daily average of ₹5.4 crore

The fraud came to light when a sports department official noticed discrepancies in financial records and filed an FIR. According to the police, Kshirsagar opened a new email account resembling the official email of the sports complex. He then used an old letterhead from the office to request the bank to update the linked email address. Once the update was made, Kshirsagar gained access to OTPs and other sensitive information, allowing him to transfer Rs 21.6 crore into 13 different bank accounts between July and December.

The police arrested Kshirsagar’s colleagues, Yashoda Shetty and her husband BK Jeevan, for their involvement in aiding the crime. The stolen funds were used to buy an SUV, BMW cars and bikes, and even a 4-BHK flat for his girlfriend. Kshirsagar remains at large as authorities continue their search.