In a dramatic bust in Mangaluru, the city police arrested Rohan Saldanha, accused of orchestrating a multi-crore scam worth an estimated Rs 500 crore. He posed as a high-profile financier, promising huge loans at artificially low interest rates to wealthy businessmen and entrepreneurs across states. Victims were required to pay advance processing fees - from Rs 50 lakh up to Rs 10 crore - after which Saldanha vanished without a trace .

Mangaluru City Police discovered his opulent mansion in Jappinamogaru, complete with hidden chambers, concealed doors, surveillance systems, rare ornamental plants worth lakhs each, and vintage liquor stashes. The secret architectural features reportedly allowed him to monitor visitors and escape as needed.

Within just a few months, one bank account showed transactions of over Rs 40 crore, indicating the fraud’s massive scale. So far, three FIRs have been lodged - two in Mangaluru and one in Chitradurga. Authorities warn more victims may exist and are expanding the probe, including money laundering potential and possible accomplices.

This case highlights a chilling blend of wealth display, illusion, and evasion, underscoring vulnerabilities exploited in trust-based financial fraud in affluent circles.