'Secret Rooms, Hidden Doors': How Mangalore Man Used His Lavish Mansion To Carry Out Rs 500-Crore Scam

In a midnight operation, Mangaluru City Police arrested Rohan Saldanha, the alleged mastermind behind a sprawling multicrore fraud targeting high-net-worth individuals with fake business loan and real estate schemes. The raid revealed not just financial deception—but a surreal, trap-laden mansion in Jepinamogaru designed to hide the man and his secrets.

The arrest, led by Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and ACP Ravish Nayak, exposed a labyrinth of false walls, hidden chambers and escape tunnels inside Saldanha’s luxury home, as per a report on India Today. Authorities say he used the complex design to evade angry investors and police scrutiny for months.

Rs 500 Crore Dreams, Rs 40 Crore Scam Trail

Saldanha lured wealthy businessmen with promises of loans worth up to Rs 500 crore and high-value property investments, demanding advance payments ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 4 crore under the guise of processing fees and stamp duties, reported Daiji World. Once the funds were transferred, Saldanha disappeared—cutting off all communication.

Investigators found that over Rs 40 crore flowed through just one of his accounts within three months, hinting at a scam with possibly dozens of victims and a wider national footprint.

Mansion Of Illusions

When police entered Saldanha’s home, they found a residence crafted to deceive: Pressure-activated doors, Secret exits behind wardrobes, Hidden staircases and underground corridors and CCTV cameras at every entry point.

The home’s interiors also stunned investigators—rare botanical specimens worth lakhs, a vintage champagne collection, and tech-driven surveillance worthy of a spy movie. When aggrieved investors arrived at his door, Saldanha would simply vanish behind the walls—slipping into secret compartments from his bedroom, avoiding confrontation entirely.

The police have registered a case. Currently, they are also carrying out a full-scale investigation to unearth more details. 

ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi Pays Tribute To Oommen Chandy In Puthuppally, Says 'RSS, CPM Have No Feelings For People'

states