BELAGAVI
Thousands of women from Belagavi, Khanapur taluka and villages near Goa have been cheated in a large Agarbatti scam after they were lured by a work-from-home job offer.
The accused, who introduced himself as Ajay Patil and is believed to be Babasaheb Kolekar from Solapur, allegedly collected over Rs 12 crore before disappearing.
The scheme posed as an incense-stick packing business promising regular monthly income. Women were asked to pay Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 to create a “work ID” and encouraged to recruit others in a chain-marketing system to increase earnings.
To appear genuine, Kolekar rented office and residential spaces in Belagavi and arranged agarbatti deliveries through auto-rickshaws. The fraud came to light when payments stopped and the office was found locked and abandoned.
Hundreds of women, many from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), have since approached the police seeking justice. “My husband passed away recently, and I joined this scheme to support my children. I invested Rs 5,000 hoping to earn a modest income. Now everything is gone,” said Laxmi Kamble, one of the victims.
Even those indirectly involved in the scheme have suffered losses. Govind Lamani, a local rickshaw driver, said, “He hired six to seven autos to supply incense sticks. My wife lost Rs 20,000, and he didn’t even pay the rent for my vehicle.”
Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borse confirmed that a case has been registered at Shahapur Police Station.
“We’ve taken the case seriously and launched a manhunt for the accused. Citizens should stay vigilant and avoid investing in such fake work-from-home schemes,” he cautioned.
The scam has exposed how deeply such chain-marketing rackets can infiltrate vulnerable communities under the guise of empowerment and self-employment.
