Bhubaneswar, Jan 19: The Commissionerate Police have apprehended a man, Nrusingha Pradhan, on charges of online fraud perpetrated through a matrimonial website. The arrest came after a complaint was filed by one of the victims who fell prey to the fraudulent activities.

According to reports, Pradhan created an account on Bharat Matrimony using the name of his wife, Deepa. Using a fake profile picture, he engaged with potential candidates, targeting a youth with whom he initiated conversations while posing as a woman. Subsequently, in the course of their interactions, Pradhan expressed interest in the young man and later solicited money, citing fictitious financial hardships and health issues. 

The victim, believing the claims, transferred money to Nrusingha through Gpay in three installments. However, when he sought to meet in person, there was no response. Suspecting deception, he contacted Cyber Police and filed a complaint.

Following the registration of a case, the police launched an investigation. It was uncovered that Nrusingha was masquerading as his wife, exploiting the online platform to deceive individuals into contributing money under the guise of matrimonial engagement. 

Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh revealed, "A SIM card and ATM card, along with Rs 1.61 lakh cash, have been seized from the possession of the accused. We have informed the Bharat Matrimony website team, as we suspect the accused could have defrauded many people in a similar manner. The investigation is ongoing."

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