VARANASI— A disturbing story of deception has unfolded in Varanasi, where police have arrested a man accused of carrying out a widespread matrimonial fraud. Dalais Uppal, a resident of Telangana, was arrested on Sunday from the Kandwa locality for allegedly posing as an army officer to trap and exploit a woman bank officer for half a decade. His arrest has brought to light a complex web of lies that spans across several Indian states, revealing a cunning modus operandi that preys on trust and aspirations for a stable partnership.
The Elaborate Facade of a Military Man
For five years, Dalais Uppal carefully maintained a false identity, convincing a woman bank officer that he was a genuine army officer. He met her through a matrimonial site, a common platform for individuals seeking life partners, and began a relationship that quickly evolved into a live-in arrangement. To bolster his fabricated persona, Uppal acquired and used various props, including an army uniform, medals, a nameplate, and even a fake pistol, all of which were later seized by the police. He also created numerous fake identity cards under different names, allowing him to seamlessly switch between his deceptive roles. This elaborate setup enabled him to gain the complete trust of his victim, who believed she was building a future with an honorable serviceman.
A Deceptive Web Spanning Multiple States
The investigation revealed that Dalais Uppal’s deceit was not limited to a single victim. Despite being married and having two children, he managed to trap more than 25 women from various states, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. Police officials stated that Uppal used different fake names, such as “Joseph” for the Varanasi victim, to maintain separate relationships. His ability to juggle multiple identities and relationships, often communicating with other women while the bank officer was at work, underscores the sophisticated nature of his fraud. The primary motive, as confessed by Uppal himself, was to trap women in love affairs and extort money from them.
The Unraveling and Arrest
The long-standing deception began to crack when the woman bank officer, after five years of a live-in relationship, pressed Uppal to formalize their union through marriage. His consistent hesitation and evasiveness eventually aroused her suspicion. Realizing she might be a victim of fraud, she courageously filed a complaint at the Chintadpur police station. Police swiftly launched an investigation, which quickly uncovered Uppal’s fraudulent activities. A case was registered against him, leading to his arrest and subsequent presentation in court, from where he was remanded to judicial custody. During the arrest, authorities recovered the fake army uniform, a printer machine (likely used for forging documents), medals, nameplates, an Aadhaar card, and the fake pistol. It was also reported that Uppal physically assaulted the woman officer when his deception was exposed, adding another layer to his criminal conduct. ADCP Saravanan T commended the police team for their diligent work in apprehending the accused.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
Broader Implications and Ongoing Investigation
The arrest of Dalais Uppal has shed light on a disturbing trend of matrimonial scams perpetrated by individuals posing as uniformed personnel. The sheer number of victims and the geographical spread of his activities highlight a significant vulnerability that many face in the digital age. Police are now working to open a “history sheet” for Uppal, a record of his criminal activities, and will send a report to the Telangana police, as his in-laws there have also filed a complaint against him. Furthermore, Uppal faces charges under the Arms Act for possessing the fake pistol.
