19-year-old aspiring model promised lead role in daily soap by scamsters, duped

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A 19-year old girl from Surat was allegedly duped by people posing as casting directors from Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms. The teenager was promised the lead role in a daily soap in return for Rs 20,000.

The victim, Sakshi Agarwal, is a BA student who was approached on social media by a woman named Rashmi Mishra. Commenting on her looks, Mishra said that Rashmi would be given a role in the serial 'Mohabattein' if she met certain conditions.

According to a report in the Indian Express, an officer from Bandra police station, where Agarwal registered a complaint, is quoted as having said, " Agarwal got a friend request on a social media site under the name of one Rashmi Mishra on December 16. Mishra said Agarwal looked like a model and convinced her to take up the female lead role in a soap named Mohabattein."

The officer is reported to have added, "The same day, a man named J D contacted her (Agarwal) on WhatsApp and after an extended negotiation, Agarwal agreed to pay him Rs 20,000. From that day, J D stopped answering her (Agarwal's) calls, following which she started calling Tamanahh and started inquiring about J D."

A case has been registered under Sections 34 and 420 of the IPC for cheating and dishonesty. Officers from the cyber cell will be conducting further investigations.

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