Man swindles woman of Rs 45 lakh after social media friendship

A man is accused of duping a 56-year-old woman from Navi Mumbai out of cash and jewelry valued at Rs 45 lakh after establishing an online friendship through a social media platform, according to the police.
The woman, a Sanpada resident and mother of a son, had separated from her husband in 2020. She later connected with the 42-year-old accused, a Cuffe Parade resident in neighboring Mumbai who was also married, via Facebook, and they developed a friendship. The accused, notably, concealed his marital status from the woman, as per an official from the Sanpada police station.
Subsequently, the accused started visiting the woman’s residence frequently, and their interactions culminated in a marriage, as indicated in the FIR.
However, the relationship took a dark turn when the accused allegedly began physically abusing and verbally berating the victim. He purportedly went further by threatening harm to her son. Shockingly, he is also alleged to have extorted money and gold jewelry from her, amounting to a staggering Rs 45 lakh, including Rs 36 lakh in cash. These details were provided by the police, referencing the complaint filed by the woman.
Based on the complaint, the Sanpada police initiated action on Tuesday by registering a case against the accused. The charges invoked against him include sections of the Indian Penal Code such as 406 (criminal breach of trust), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 494 (marrying again during the lifetime of a husband or wife), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation).