Mangaluru Fraudster Busted in ₹500 Crore Loan Scam; Secret Chambers Found in Lavish Mansion

In a dramatic midnight operation, Mangaluru City Police arrested Rohan Saldanha, a high-profile conman from the Jepinamogaru area, for allegedly orchestrating a massive fraud scheme involving fake business loans and land deals. The scam targeted wealthy businessmen across India, defrauding them of crores of rupees. The arrest was part of a coordinated raid led by Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravish Nayak. Their team uncovered a lavish mansion hiding a complex network of secret chambers, false walls, and concealed exits — all designed to help Saldanha evade capture.

Saldanha is accused of promising business loans worth up to ₹500 crore and offering seemingly lucrative real estate investment opportunities. Victims were persuaded to pay hefty advance amounts, ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹4 crore, under the pretense of processing fees and legal formalities. After collecting these payments, Saldanha would abruptly sever all communication and disappear. One of his bank accounts reportedly showed over ₹40 crore in transactions within just three months, suggesting the actual scale of the scam could be even larger.

The police raid revealed the extraordinary measures Saldanha had taken to disguise his operations. His mansion was custom-designed to hide rather than display wealth. Authorities discovered exotic ornamental plants, each valued between ₹3 lakh and ₹5 lakh, along with a private collection of rare vintage champagne and imported liquors. More significantly, the house was equipped with advanced surveillance systems featuring high-definition cameras covering every room and entry point.

Hidden exits, escape routes, and secret staircases were built into the structure, allowing Saldanha to vanish from the property undetected. Bedroom walls had disguised doors leading to underground tunnels and rooms that were invisible to visitors. These features allowed him to monitor incoming guests from a surveillance room and avoid confrontation when creditors or victims arrived unexpectedly.

According to investigators, Saldanha portrayed himself as a powerful and well-connected businessman with access to financial institutions capable of sanctioning massive loans up to ₹600 crore. He used displays of opulence and influence to build credibility, only to disappear once money changed hands. This pattern was reportedly repeated across multiple Indian cities, affecting numerous victims.

The Mangaluru police have launched a comprehensive investigation to uncover the full extent of the fraud. They are probing how Saldanha financed his luxurious lifestyle and elaborate escape mechanisms. Officials are also examining possible connections to broader financial crimes, including money laundering and fraudulent business fronts.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Saldanha, and authorities are actively seeking additional victims who may have fallen prey to his schemes. The case has sparked major concern in the financial and law enforcement communities, given the scale, sophistication, and secrecy surrounding the operation. Police believe this could be one of the biggest financial scams the city has ever seen.