A TV actor, who works in a crime show, was duped of ₹4.5 lakh by a Delhi-based ‘businessman’ on the pretext of marriage, said the police on Wednesday.
Amita Ailawadi had filed a complaint of cheating at Kashmere Gate police station against a man, Sandeep Arora, whom she had met on a matrimonial website.
She said that Arora introduced himself as a businessman.
After going through each other’s profile, they exchanged their phone numbers on May 15 and chatted on WhatsApp for a few days. “The man pretended to be interested in marriage and promised to make her meet his parents who were in Dubai for a visit. He promised to marry after his parents return from Dubai,” she stated in her compliant.
They met at a restaurant in Connaught Place on May 29 and had a long conversation and everything seemed to be normal. However, on May 30, the man called her claiming that he was at a police station to lodge an FIR as his identity cards, credit cards and money had been stolen from his car.
“The man claimed that he urgently needed ₹4.5 lakh for the payment of a flat that he had booked. He said he will return the money as soon as he gets access to his bank accounts. He asked for the money in cash as all of his bank accounts were blocked,” she said in her complaint.
On 1 June, Ms. Ailawadi encashed her fixed deposit and gave the required money to Arora. After receiving the cash, the accused stopped taking her calls and remained untraceable.
“He emotionally cheated and blackmailed me. I have his photograph and the WhatsApp chats that I have submitted to the police for investigation. I strongly believe that the man has duped several other girls on matrimonial websites on the pretext of marrying them,” she said.
The police said that they have received a complaint and the case is under investigation.