The Bhandup Police have registered a criminal case against a local moneylender, Sudhanshu Kuldeep Pandey alias Naman, and his grandmother Pushpa Harishankar Pandey, for allegedly harassing and issuing death threats to a family that had already repaid over ₹16.89 lakh on a ₹6 lakh loan.
According to the FIR, the complainant, Satishkumar Vitthal Pujari,55, a priest at a temple in Bhattipada, Bhandup (West), and a former canteen operator at Hind Rectifier on Lake Road, suffered financial losses when the company shifted locations. Seeking financial help, his son Sairaj,30, had borrowed ₹6 lakh from Pandey, a resident of Shastri Nagar, Bhandup (West).
Between September 2023 and January 2025, Pandey lent the family ₹6 lakh in installments, charging 15% interest. The loan was disbursed in phases, with the funds credited through the accounts of Sudhanshu Pandey and his uncle, Sandeep Pandey.
Over the course of several months, the Pujari family had repaid ₹16.89 lakh, including interest – nearly three times the principal – through legitimate bank transfers from Sairaj’s SBI and Canara Bank accounts. When interest payments were delayed, Sudhanshu allegedly verbally abused and threatened Sairaj.
Fearing for his safety, Sairaj eventually left Mumbai and relocated to his native place in Katpadi, Udupi district, Karnataka. However, despite the repayment, Pandey allegedly continued to demand an additional ₹6 lakh, claiming the principal was still due.
The situation escalated when the Pandey family reportedly threatened to falsely implicate the Pujaris in a criminal case, and even attempted to forcibly enter their home and assault them. There are also allegations that the accused threatened to harm themselves to frame the Pujari family.
The Pujari family finally approached the Bhandup Police Station and filedan official complaint. Based on the complaint, police have registered the case under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. Investigations are ongoing.