Ulwe police arrest Shailendra Dwivedi in Lonavala over Rs 19 lakh housing fraud

Ulwe police in Navi Mumbai have arrested Shailendra Devprabhakar Dwivedi from Lonavala. He is accused of defrauding people under the guise of journalism and of trying to defame the police through social media.

Dwivedi owns a company called Shri Guru Builders & Developers. A case of cheating was registered against him at Ulwe police station. He is accused of cheating people of about Rs 19 lakh by luring them with the promise of a home at a low price.

The case is registered at Ulwe police station under Zone 2, Belapur, of the Police Commissionerate. The police investigation found that the accused, through his firm, promised complainant Vijay Jha a home at a low price and defrauded him of Rs 19 lakh. The case was registered on October 7, 2026.

After the case was registered, the accused had been evading the police. The police eventually traced him with the help of technical investigation. He was taken into custody from a hotel in Lonavala, and his arrest was recorded at 12.04 am on November 12.

According to a police press release, several cases are already registered against the accused at different police stations. These include theft, possession of weapons, obstructing a public servant in the discharge of duty and assault. The release also says he used social media to try to defame the police force and mislead the public.

The action has raised afresh the question of people who move around Navi Mumbai in the name of journalism. It is being said that some people use a journalist's identity to get close to police officers and staff, misuse that closeness, pressure people and make assorted allegations on social media. The need to curb such practices is being pointed out.

Ulwe police announced the arrest at a press conference. The question is also being raised whether, if some police officers or staff help such people, share confidential information with them or deliberately overlook their wrongdoing, they too will be investigated and their names made public.

The methods of some suspicious people who move around in the name of journalism are also said to be discussed in the areas of the Airoli, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane and Panvel police stations. The question is whether their financial dealings, their identity as journalists and the depth of their contacts in the police department will be examined, and whether it will also be looked into who backs them. Journalists who work honestly with the public are also watching whether the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate will conduct an impartial inquiry into all such suspicious people.