Kanpur, Staff Correspondent : A conman posing as a civil judge has allegedly defrauded a government employee of ₹35 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, adding another case to a growing list of similar frauds. The accused, identified as Vishnu Shankar Gupta, is already under investigation in three separate cases involving over ₹1.08 crore.
Promise of Marriage and a Luxury Car Trap
According to a complaint filed at Kanpur’s Gwaltoli police station, Monika (name changed), a government employee from Firozabad, came into contact with the accused after her father published a matrimonial advertisement.
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Introducing himself as Anshuman Vikram Singh, a Civil Judge (Junior Division) posted in Azamgarh, the man proposed marriage in December 2024. He told the family he did not want dowry as he had “ample illegal income,” but insisted on buying a luxury car worth ₹60–70 lakh in the bride’s name before marriage.
Claiming urgency, he persuaded the woman to arrange ₹35 lakh for the car’s down payment. Trusting his promise, she took loans from several banks and handed him the money in February this year. Soon after, he vanished, switching off his phone. When the Aadhaar card he had provided was verified, it turned out to be fake.
Fake Identity and Manipulated Court Records
Investigators revealed that the accused had created a fake profile on the Allahabad High Court website to pass himself off as a judicial officer. He allegedly used forged documents — including seals, ID cards, and digital signatures — possibly with the help of accomplices from Varanasi.
A Serial Fraudster: Past Victims Identified
Police records show that Vishnu Shankar Gupta previously targeted at least three other women by pretending to be a judge or senior government official:
- ₹59 lakh from a nursing officer at King George’s Medical University (KGMU),
- ₹49 lakh from a young employee at the UP Secretariat, and
- ₹9.27 lakh from a teacher, Vijayalakshmi Gupta, in Fatehpur.
After defrauding the victims, he even posted photos on social media referring to one of them as his “future wife.” Using forged voter IDs with a Kanpur address, he financed a luxury car in his own name.
Police Action and Ongoing Probe
Kanpur Police have registered an FIR under sections related to fraud, forgery, and criminal impersonation.
“The accused exploited the credibility of the judiciary to defraud women emotionally and financially,” a senior police officer said, adding that multiple teams are pursuing leads across Kanpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi.
Expert View: A New Pattern of Social Engineering Fraud
Cybercrime experts say the case reflects a growing trend of identity-based deception, where fraudsters exploit social trust rather than just digital systems.
“These scams blend emotional manipulation with digital forgery. By impersonating officials and using fake online profiles, criminals gain legitimacy and bypass suspicion,” an expert noted.
“It’s a dangerous evolution of fraud — one that merges psychological exploitation with sophisticated document fabrication.”
Experts advise citizens to verify any claims of government employment independently through official websites or departmental helplines, instead of relying on documents or credentials shown by individuals.
Police Advisory: Verify Before You Trust
Authorities have urged citizens to remain alert, particularly when dealing with matrimonial or professional proposals involving individuals claiming to hold government posts.
Officials emphasized that digital verification and independent background in checks are the most effective defences against such identity-based scams.
