The CEN Crime Police of Mangaluru City have arrested Roshan Saldana, a 43-year-old resident of Bollagudda in Bajal, who allegedly defrauded high-net-worth individuals by posing as a wealthy entrepreneur. After evading arrest for months, Saldana was finally apprehended from a hidden chamber in his home, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy confirmed.
Saldana reportedly promised loans in the range of hundreds of crores, collecting 1–2% as stamp duty and commission, only to vanish after receiving the payments. His fraudulent operations targeted businessmen across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chitradurga, Kolkata, Goa, Lucknow, and others.
When police raided his residence, they discovered incriminating documents, post-dated cheques, a diamond ring worth ₹2.75 crore, and jewellery and premium liquor valued at over ₹6.7 lakh, all of which were seized.
A case under the Karnataka Excise Act was also filed due to possession of liquor far beyond legal limits. The ongoing investigation revealed over ₹40 crore in transactions in his bank accounts over the past 3–4 months, pointing to the scale of the scam.
So far, two FIRs have been lodged in Mangaluru City, with another in Chitradurga. Authorities expect to uncover further accomplices, victims, and the full extent of the fraud in the coming days.
Saldana has been booked under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(2), 318(3), and 3(5) of the BNS, and was produced before the court on Friday.