Ahmedabad man alleges ₹15 lakh online ‘honey-trap’ fraud, 3 booked in Odhav

A 48-year-old resident of Odhav has alleged that he was duped of nearly ₹15 lakh over a period of three years by a group of three men who allegedly created a fake social media profile of a woman, befriended him, and extorted money on the pretext of marriage and threats of defamation.

According to the First Information Report registered at Odhav Police Station on April 19, Nirbhay Kumar Amin claimed that the accused — Sarabjit Singh Gyansingh Bharti, Ranveer Singh Gyansingh Bharti, both residents of Ambikanagar, and Sunil Harishankar Pandey, also from the same locality, conspired to orchestrate an elaborate online fraud using a fictitious Facebook identity named 'Nirju Nakarmi'.

Amin, who has been residing in Odhav for over three decades and cares for his paralysed mother, stated that he came across the Facebook profile approximately three years ago while using an account under the name 'Amin Nimesh'. After initiating contact, he began conversing with the profile, which portrayed itself as a woman engaged in modelling work and later claimed to be divorced.

Over time, the accused, allegedly operating the account, gained Amin’s trust and proposed marriage. The complainant alleged that under various pretexts — including travel expenses and personal financial needs — he was persuaded to part with money in instalments. Initially, he handed over ₹15,000 in cash to one of the accused, Sarabjit Singh Bharti, who lived opposite his residence, believing it would be transferred to the woman.

“The accused continued to assure me of marriage and kept demanding money. I paid around ₹13.5 lakh in phases,” Amin stated in his complaint.

Suspicion arose when the complainant refused further payments and was allegedly threatened with false criminal charges, including rape allegations, and abusive messages. Upon probing the transactions, Amin claimed he discovered that the funds were being routed between the accused, including transfers to Sunil Pandey.

When confronted, the three allegedly threatened to defame him in society and kill him. The complainant further alleged that under intimidation, he was coerced into paying an additional ₹1.5 lakh, taking the total amount to approximately ₹15 lakh.

The complaint was lodged with the support of his nephew, who also figures as a witness in the case.

Police said a case has been registered under relevant sections pertaining to cheating, criminal conspiracy, extortion, and criminal intimidation. The investigation has been taken up by officials of the Odhav Police Station, led by a police inspector.

Officials added that documentary evidence, including financial transaction details and digital communication records, is being examined. Further investigation is under way to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud and to determine whether more individuals were involved.