A 37-year-old man, Deeptiraj Pattnaik, was arrested in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday for allegedly defrauding multiple women through matrimonial websites.
Pattnaik, a resident of Niladri Vihar, is accused of presenting himself as a wealthy, unmarried individual to target prospective brides. He was apprehended by the Chandrasekhar police following a complaint from one of his victims.
According to police sources, Pattnaik falsely claimed ownership of 32 flats in Bhubaneswar and substantial earnings from share trading and commercial properties, reportedly earning Rs 8 lakh a month in rent. He also convinced the complainant to lend him Rs 1.4 lakh, claiming his bank cards were blocked and that he needed the money for a cell phone. After several meetings, he repaid only Rs 10,905 and later asked for an additional Rs 1 lakh, citing financial troubles.
Suspicious of his motives, the complainant investigated his background, discovering that Pattnaik was already married and had been targeting women through matrimonial platforms.
The accused had also been involved in a land dispute case in Bhubaneswar, according to police records, as reported by TOI.
