Man poses as doctor on matrimonial site, dupes woman of Rs 22 lakh in Bhubaneswar

A man posing as a doctor was arrested by Pahala police on Thursday for allegedly cheating a woman of Rs 22 lakh by creating a fake profile on a matrimonial platform and making false promises of marriage in Odisha's Bhubaneswar. Police said the accused projected himself as a qualified medical professional to gain the trust of the victim.

According to the allegations, the accused created a fake doctor’s profile on a matrimonial website and approached the woman under the pretext of marriage. During the course of their interactions, he allegedly assured her of marriage and even involved references to his younger brother to reinforce his claims. Police said the woman was gradually persuaded to transfer large sums of money based on these assurances.

Money Taken In Name Of Policies And Marriage

Investigators stated that the accused allegedly collected Rs 22 lakh from the woman, citing reasons such as marriage-related expenses and investments in various bank policies. The money was allegedly taken in multiple instalments. The victim later realised she had been cheated and approached the police, following which a case was registered.

Accused Produced Before Court

Pahala police arrested the accused and produced him before a court. As per reports, further inquiry following the arrest revealed that the accused may have cheated several women in a similar manner, allegedly maintaining multiple relationships while falsely claiming to be a doctor.

Growing Concern Over Matrimonial Scams

Police sources said such cases have raised concerns among women and their families regarding safety and trust on matrimonial platforms. Scammers are reportedly targeting women seeking marriage prospects by projecting themselves as professionals holding reputed positions.

Also Read: Matrimonial frauds on the rise in Odisha: Police trace several instances of deceit, financial and physical exploitation

In a similar incident in 2025, Capital Police had arrested an individual who allegedly duped women on matrimonial platforms by portraying himself as a doctor, a Dubai-based company manager, an industrialist and a hotelier. Police have urged people to verify credentials carefully before entering into matrimonial discussions.

Authorties Respond

Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh said, “The accused projected himself as both Prakash and Tushar while communicating with the woman. His real name is Ranjeeb Pradran. He targeted the woman on matrimonial website, presenting himself as Prakash Pradhan and claiming that his brother, Tushar Pradhan, was about to get married and was employed in a well-paying job. He spoke to the complainant as well as her father, and also arranged conversations with them while posing as Tushar.”

He further said, “Initially, the accused, posing as Prakash, cheated the complainant’s father by claiming that a policy had been launched during the Covid-19 period and that investing in it would yield high returns. In this manner, he cheated them of a total amount of Rs 22,17,000.”

Singh added, “When pressured, the accused returned only about Rs 1.5 lakh and used the remaining amount for himself. Pahala police arrested him and are investigating whether he has cheated others in a similar manner. He specifically targeted innocent people whom he could easily deceive.”

Speaking on the rising number of fraud cases linked to matrimonial platforms, Singh said, “We cannot attribute the fraud to matrimonial websites, as this offence was not committed by the platform itself. People should exercise caution before giving money to anyone when no marital relationship has been established. They should verify backgrounds, make enquiries, and seek police assistance if required.”