MYSURU: The Kuvempunagar police arrested a fraudster who was allegedly targeting widows, divorced women and unmarried elderly women on matrimonial sites, police said.
The accused has been identified as Mahesh Tanorva, a 35-year-old resident of Banashankari in Bengaluru. He would marry the women and flee with their cash and valuable gold ornaments, the official said. Following a complaint filed by a victim, a case was registered, leading to Mahesh Tanorva’s arrest.
“He had pressured Hemalatha to lend Rs 70 lakh to open a clinic after marriage. He also threatened to kill her if she didn’t pay the loan or money. Finally, he stole gold jewellery and Rs 15 lakh in cash from Hemalatha and escaped. Following this, Hemalatha had filed a complaint against her husband Mahesh at Kuvempunagar police station,” said a police official.
The investigation revealed that Mahesh was married 15 times by gaining the women’s trust and escaping with gold ornaments and money, they said. “It is reported that Mahesh Tanorva has cheated 15 women so far. But the police are investigating why the women have not filed a complaint and who they are”, the police added.
Mahesh used the alias of a doctor to contact the women through the matrimonial website. Presenting himself as a respectable doctor, he use to gain their trust, eventually marrying them.
“After registering a complaint, the Kuvempu Nagar police have succeeded in arresting the accused Mahesh Tanorva. It has come to light that the accused cheated many women by claiming to be an engineer, contractor and government employee”, the police said.
The police seized Rs 2 lakh in cash, two cars, one gold bracelet, one ring, two gold bangles, a necklace and seven mobile phones from the accused, the police said. Further investigation is under way. (ANI)