Fake Cop Arrested for Marrying 5 Women Simultaneously: Police

Bhubaneswar:

Arrested in Bhubaneswar on the allegation of marrying five women without legally ending any previous marriage and deceiving them of large sums of money by pretending to be a law enforcement officer, a 34-year-old individual was apprehended, according to an official statement on Saturday.

Investigations also revealed that the suspect was in communication with 49 other women on a matrimonial website regarding potential marriages.

Following complaints from two of his wives, law enforcement officers set up a sting operation using a female officer and detained Satyajit Samal when he arrived to meet her, stated Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police Sanjeeb Panda at a press conference.

The authorities seized a vehicle, a motorcycle, Rs 2.10 lakh in cash, a firearm, ammunition, and two marriage contract documents from his possession.

A marriage contract document is a legally binding agreement that couples sign before getting married.

During questioning, Mr Panda stated that the accused confessed to marrying the two women listed in the contract and a third one.

Out of his total of five spouses, two were from Odisha, while one each was from Kolkata and Delhi. Information about the fifth woman was still pending.

Three of Samal’s bank accounts were frozen, Mr Panda added.

The perpetrator, originally from Jajpur district but currently residing in Bhubaneswar, targeted young widows and divorcees through matrimonial websites, the police officer mentioned.

“Samal would demand money and vehicles in exchange for marriage promises, threatening them with a gun if they requested refunds,” he stated.

Upon inspecting his mobile device, police discovered that he was communicating with 49 women on a matrimonial site.

An investigation into Samal was initiated after a woman filed a complaint at Capital Police Station in February.

According to one of the complainants, she met Samal through a matrimonial platform, leading to regular meetings and conversations.

Subsequently, he allegedly coerced her into a physical relationship under the guise of marriage and requested funds for a car purchase.

The victim obtained a bank loan and bought a car valued at approximately Rs 8.15 lakh for him. Additionally, she provided him with Rs 36 lakh to kickstart a business.

In the case of the other complainant, the accused purportedly took Rs 8.60 lakh and a motorbike from her.

The second victim also acquired personal loans from multiple banks to fulfill his demands.

Mr Panda mentioned that the accused lived a lavish lifestyle with the ill-gotten money.

“We anticipate more individuals who may have been defrauded by him will step forward following his apprehension,” he remarked.

The police official noted that the suspect would flee to Dubai after deceiving one woman, only to return and target his next victim.