Posed As Widower, Changed Name: Gujarat Man Traps 20 Women On Matrimonial Site; 8,000 Photos, Videos Recovered

A man suspected of creating a false identity on matrimonial sites to target divorcees and widows has been apprehended by the Gujarat Police. Authorities said the accused, Karim Rafiqbhai Sipahi, allegedly went by the name "Aditya Patel" and presented fabricated information about himself, his work, and his personal background to befriend and deceive women from several platforms.

The police recovered a laptop while investigating the case. The laptop apparently held almost 8,000 images and video clips of around 100 women. The police also recovered purported fraudulent Aadhaar and PAN cards and a driving license under the name Aditya Patel.

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Married Man Posed As Childless Widower 

According to the probe, Karim, despite having a wife and 20-year-old son, posed himself as a childless widower to lure women.

The Joint Commissioner of Police at the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, Sharad Singhal, stated that the digital evidence retrieved from the perpetrator's devices is being examined by the police and forensic experts. They are also trying to determine if someone else may have been complicit in the operation by lending him financial support and providing assistance in operating his alleged network.

According to the police, Karim identified himself as an IT engineer and a businessman when posting his profile on matrimonial websites. By displaying photos of himself living an opulent lifestyle and giving false information regarding his profession, and also gifting women valuable objects, he was able to forge an advantageous connection with them.

The accused had reportedly informed the women whom he contacted that he was a widower with no offspring. A complaint from a woman led to the investigation when she contacted the Mehsana Crime Branch to allege that a man known to her as Aditya Patel was concealing his actual identity. 

The woman reported that the accused had requested Rs 70,000 from her, citing her financial hardship as the justification for his need for the money.

Suspicious, the woman performed a search on Truecaller using the alleged deceiver's mobile number and discovered that the real identity that had been revealed for him was Karim Rafiqbhai Sipahi. The police launched an investigation into her complaint, and Karim was detained.

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The accused had allegedly obtained a driving license using the name Aditya Patel, according to DCP Ajit Rajian. How the purported fake identification documents were acquired is currently being investigated by authorities.

Objectionable Content Found On Devices

The perpetrator's mobile phone was found to contain compromising images and video recordings of about 20 women, while close to 8000 images and video clips of around 100 women were discovered on his laptop; both are now being investigated by forensic experts.

Investigators suspect that the accused specifically targeted divorced and widowed Hindu women through his phoney profile. The scope of his alleged fraud is currently being assessed, and police are trying to figure out how many victims might be involved.

The accused has been sent to judicial custody, and police have stated that they are being cautious so as not to compromise the dignity and privacy of the women involved while unravelling the alleged fraud.