A local politician from Malad, Mumbai, has been formally charged by the police for allegedly cheating a model out of a staggering sum of Rs 35 lakh. The case involves promises of legal assistance in a sexual assault complaint and lucrative business investments that never materialized.
The Troubled Marriage and Initial Deception
The story begins in 2023 when the 37-year-old complainant, a resident of Malad (West), met a man on a social media app. He presented himself as a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy. Their relationship progressed, leading to marriage. However, a few months after the marriage was consummated, the husband severed all contact abruptly. This betrayal left the woman in severe mental distress, culminating in an alleged suicide attempt by consuming sleeping pills, as documented in the First Information Report (FIR).
The Neighbour's Intervention Turns Sinister
At this critical juncture, a neighbour, who is the accused politician, and his wife stepped in. They alerted the authorities and helped shift the distressed model to a hospital for urgent treatment. After she was discharged, the politician persuaded her to file a police complaint against her estranged husband, assuring her of his influence and support in the matter. Exploiting her vulnerable state, he then demanded money for this assistance. The complainant allegedly paid him Rs 10 lakh. Following this payment, an FIR was registered against her former husband at the local police station in May 2025.
The Deepening Financial Fraud
The accused did not stop there. He subsequently demanded more funds, and the model reportedly gave him an additional Rs 5 lakh. Furthermore, the politician claimed to run a footwear business and convinced the woman to invest in it with promises of high returns. According to the FIR, between 2024 and July 2025, the complainant invested a total of Rs 20 lakh into this venture. She received no profits whatsoever from this supposed investment.
The final straw came when the model recently demanded the return of her total investment of Rs 35 lakh. In response, the accused politician allegedly threatened her and flatly refused to repay any amount. This prompted her to approach the police, leading to the registration of a case against the politician for cheating and criminal intimidation. The investigation is now ongoing.
