Ludhiana Police Book Travel Agents for Rs 35 Lakh Marriage Fraud
In a significant development, the rural police in Ludhiana have formally booked two travel agents for allegedly defrauding a man of Rs 35 lakh. The fraudulent scheme was based on a promise to send the victim abroad through a sham marriage arrangement, which ultimately never materialized.
Details of the Complaint
The case was initiated following a detailed complaint filed by Charanjit Singh, a resident of Ghunewal village. According to his statement, the accused individuals, identified as Lakhvir Singh from Mullanpur and Reena Rani from the New Abadi Akalgarh area, operated as travel agents. Lakhvir Singh reportedly managed an office located in Palika Bazaar, New Abadi Akalgarh, which served as a base for their illicit activities.
Charanjit Singh alleged that the agents assured him they could facilitate his relocation abroad by orchestrating a marriage-based arrangement. For this service, they demanded a total of approximately Rs 45 lakh. He complied by paying an advance of Rs 35 lakh, with the remaining Rs 10 lakh slated to be handed over upon his successful arrival in a foreign country.
The Fraudulent Marriage and Subsequent Harassment
As part of the scheme, the agents arranged a marriage between Charanjit Singh and an unknown woman. However, after a period of two years, he found himself neither sent abroad nor reimbursed for the substantial sum he had paid. To exacerbate his plight, the accused allegedly filed a legal case against him in court, purportedly as a tactic to harass and intimidate him further.
Police Action and Previous Cases
Upon conducting preliminary investigations, the police registered a formal cheating case against Lakhvir Singh and Reena Rani at the Sudhar Police Station. SHO Gurdeep Singh of the Sudhar police station revealed that this incident represents the third such complaint lodged against the duo. Previously, two separate cases had been filed based on complaints from ASI Manohar Singh and Manvinder Singh.
In those earlier instances, the accused were alleged to have cheated ASI Manohar Singh out of Rs 33 lakh and Manvinder Singh of approximately Rs 6.5 lakh. The pattern of deception highlights a recurring modus operandi targeting individuals with promises of overseas opportunities.
Further investigation is currently underway, as authorities delve deeper into the extent of the fraud and seek to bring the perpetrators to justice. The case underscores the risks associated with unauthorized travel agents and the importance of verifying credentials before engaging in such high-stakes arrangements.
