A 28-year-old Mumbai resident was allegedly cheated of Rs 2.18 lakh by a man she met on a dating app who promised marriage and cheap travel bookings. Mulund Police have registered a case and launched an investigation
Police have registered a case for cheating and criminal breach of trust and launched an investigation. Representational pic
A 28-year-old private employee from Mumbai was allegedly duped of Rs 2.18 lakh by a man she met on a dating app. The accused befriended the Mulund resident online, gained the trust of her family by promising marriage and cheap travel bookings, and later disappeared after taking the money.
According to the police, the woman, who lives with her parents and younger sister, first connected with the accused through a dating app in August 2025. He introduced himself as Kaushik Raj Abhaykumar Singh, also known as Ankit Singh, claiming he was based in Delhi and originally from Bihar. He told the woman that he ran multiple businesses, including a company named AIVIRA Living Pvt Ltd, and was involved in arranging hotel bookings and flight tickets.
After their initial interaction on the dating platform, the two began communicating regularly through Instagram and later on WhatsApp. Over time, their friendship grew closer and the accused expressed his intention to marry her. In September 2025, they met at a restaurant in Powai and continued meeting thereafter.
“The accused also visited the woman’s residence in Mulund and met her parents, further strengthening the family’s trust in him,” a police official said.
During their conversations, he told the woman that he could arrange airline tickets and hotel bookings at cheaper rates through his contacts. When the woman and her family planned trips to places such as Goa, Varanasi, and later international destinations including Belgium and Amsterdam, he offered to handle the bookings. Believing him, the woman and her father began transferring money to bank accounts provided by him and his associates for flight tickets and hotel reservations.
Between September and October 2025, the woman transferred several amounts through online transactions to accounts belonging to people introduced by the accused, including individuals identified as Shubham Sharma and Ankita Rajkumar Choukse. The payments included transfers of Rs 55,600 twice, Rs 65,000 and Rs 42,000, taking the total to Rs 2,18,200.
Accused issued cheques worth over Rs 2.2 lakh that later bounced; Mumbai Police begin probe
Police said the accused kept giving excuses for delays in issuing the tickets, citing technical issues or personal emergencies. On some occasions, he returned small amounts to maintain the woman’s trust and assured her that the remaining money would be refunded soon. He later issued cheques worth over Rs 2.2 lakh to the woman’s father, but both cheques bounced when deposited in the bank.
When the woman and her family tried to contact him later, his phone was found switched off. During their inquiries, they also learnt that he had allegedly cheated other women in a similar manner. Realising they had been defrauded, the woman approached the Mulund Police and lodged a complaint.
Based on the complaint, the Mulund Police registered a first information report (FIR) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and criminal breach of trust and have begun investigating the case.
The police are now trying to trace the accused and verify whether more victims may have been targeted using the same modus operandi.
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