Rajasthan jeweller held for duping Ujjain woman of ₹1.27 crore
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A Rajasthan-based jewellery businessman, identified as Manish, a resident of Mansarovar, Jaipur, has been arrested for allegedly trapping a woman from Ujjain under the pretext of marriage and inducing her to spend approximately ₹1.27 crore on luxury goods, police said on Thursday, 20 August. The accused was tracked down to Pali, Rajasthan, through technical surveillance and arrested by the Madhavnagar police.
How the Fraud Unfolded
According to police, Manish first met the victim — the daughter of a local businessman — when he visited Ujjain from Dewas. The two exchanged contact details and gradually grew close. He allegedly promised to marry her, established a physical relationship, and over a period of roughly three to four months, systematically gained her trust.
Once the relationship was established, Manish allegedly persuaded her to purchase expensive goods and regularly had large sums transferred to his bank account. He had also opened a jewellery shop, which the woman reportedly visited to meet him, lending the association a veneer of legitimacy.
Scale of the Alleged Swindle
Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said the woman had initially filed a complaint estimating her losses at around ₹35 lakh. Subsequent investigation, however, revealed the total expenditure allegedly linked to the accused had climbed to ₹1.27 crore. Police have so far recovered goods worth approximately ₹5 lakh from Manish, including multiple pairs of shoes, sandals, and trolley bags. One pair of shoes alone was valued at ₹21,000, officials noted.
Modus Operandi and Evasion Tactics
'Manish used social media and mutual acquaintances to establish contact with women. He allegedly targeted women to finance his expensive lifestyle,' Sharma said. The accused routinely changed his mobile numbers and shifted between rented accommodations to avoid detection, making him difficult to locate.
'He frequently changed his mobile numbers and hideouts to evade the police. Technical surveillance and continuous monitoring helped us trace his location and arrest him,' Sharma added. Investigators eventually pinned him down in Pali through sustained technical monitoring.
Investigation Ongoing
Police are currently examining Manish's mobile phone, social media accounts, bank transactions, cash dealings, online shopping records, and documents linked to his jewellery business. The probe is expected to determine whether additional victims may have been targeted using a similar pattern. This comes amid a broader rise in cases where romantic deception is used as a vehicle for financial fraud, particularly targeting individuals from business families.