Mumbai crime: Ex-wife of 'serial groom' had tipped off one of his targets

The former wife of the man held last fortnight by the BKC Cyber Crime cell for cheating women through matrimonial sites, had alerted a woman whom he had targeted, about his activities, say Dadar police.

Also read: Cheat poses as groom to dupe women on matrimonial sites

This woman had complained to the Dadar police station about him and following an inquiry, a case was registered with them last month. mid-day had reported on Kiran Bagwe's arrest, ‘Cheat poses as groom to dupe women on matrimonial sites' on October 9.

The police say Bagwe had approached a Dadar-based woman through a matrimonial website in 2011 and duped her of Rs 30,000 and a gold ring. She got a call in the month of February this year by Bagwe's wife, who told her they had been married and because of his cheating habits, she had divorced him. After this, the woman wrote to the Dadar police station about Bagwe.

The Dadar police learnt that the accused was nabbed from Nagpur by the BKC Cyber Crime cell, and then took him into their custody. He was nabbed after a woman complained that he had cheated her of Rs 1,57,360. According to the police, Bagwe is a Std XII dropout and had quit his job as a peon in order to dupe women through matrimonial sites.

An officer from Dadar police station said, "The accused approached the complainant through a website and spoke to her saying he was an engineer. He used to upload pictures of his good-looking friends on his profile." Bagwe allegedly charmed women with his refined English and convinced them to lend him money.

The police officials alleged that the complainant was ready to marry Bagwe without meeting him and had even made a gold ring for the engagement. The officer further said, "As the two often spoke on phone, she was convinced to marry him without even meeting him before. She even spoke to her parents and took their permission for the marriage. She then had the gold ring made."

Bagwe allegedly told her that his mother was unwell and he was in need of money. "The accused alleged that he needed some money as his mother was unwell and would be sending his friend to collect the money. He then collected the cash on the pretext of being his friend. He also took the gold ring from the woman," the officer added. Police say despite this, the woman had been in touch with Bagwe.

The accused has been booked under Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 465 (punishment for forgery) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of the IPC along with Sections 66 (C) and (D) under IT act.