A case of alleged rape and financial fraud involving ₹41.25 lakh has come to light in Maharashtra’s Thane district, where a man is accused of posing as a millionaire hotelier on a matrimonial website to deceive a woman. According to police, the accused contacted the victim through the platform, promised to marry her, allegedly sexually exploited her, and fraudulently obtained a substantial amount of money.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused met the woman through a matrimonial website. Claiming to be a wealthy and well-established businessman, he gradually gained her confidence. As their relationship developed, he allegedly assured her that he would marry her. Relying on these promises, the woman entered into a relationship with him, during which he allegedly had sexual relations with her and repeatedly sought money from her under various pretexts.
Police said the accused allegedly collected a total of ₹41.25 lakh from the victim through different excuses. When she later asked him to fulfil his promise of marriage and return her money, he reportedly began avoiding her. The woman subsequently suspected that he had misrepresented his identity, financial status and intentions, following which she approached the police.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case against the accused under charges of rape, cheating and other relevant provisions of law. Investigators are examining his financial transactions, electronic evidence, and the matrimonial profile he allegedly used. Authorities are also trying to determine whether he employed a similar modus operandi to target other women.
Investigators believe that the misuse of matrimonial platforms to gain victims’ trust has become an emerging form of cyber-enabled financial and emotional crime. In such cases, fraudsters often create fake identities, exaggerate their profession and wealth, and maintain long-term relationships before exploiting victims financially and emotionally.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that users of matrimonial and social networking platforms should independently verify a person’s identity, profession and financial background before placing trust in them. He advised that repeated requests for money, pressure to invest, or attempts to rush a relationship in the name of marriage should be treated as serious warning signs, and any suspicious activity should be reported to the police immediately.
Police have urged the public to exercise caution while using online matrimonial platforms, avoid transferring large sums of money to individuals they have met online, and verify a person’s background thoroughly before making any personal or financial commitments. The investigation is ongoing.
