LUCKNOW: A 40-year-old man, who pretended to be an army officer on Instagram to befriend women and then exploit them sexually and financially, was arrested from Sarojininagar area adjoining Kisan Path on Tuesday.
Haider Ali Beg, originally from Odisha, posed as a captain in the Army Medical Corps, to manipulate women into relationships and then steal cash and jewellery, police said.
Beg, who used the fake name ‘Hartik,' was caught with army uniforms, badges, a fake army canteen card, and forged documents, including an Aadhaar card and PAN card.
DCP South, Nipun Agrawal, stated that the fraud came to light after a woman filed a complaint. The woman revealed that she was going through a divorce due to her husband's alcoholism and abuse. During this period, she met Hartik on Instagram, and their relationship progressed to discussions about marriage. Hartik began visiting her home, during which he concealed his true religious identity and manipulated her into a physical relationship.
Over time, Hartik convinced the woman to give him jewellery, which he later sold for ₹4.5 lakh. Realising that she was scammed, the woman filed a case.
Further investigation revealed that Haider Ali Beg lured several young women into relationships under the pretext of being a soldier, exploiting them sexually, and swindling them of their valuables. Additionally, he tricked several individuals by promising them jobs and taking money for the same.
Police said he is suspected to have duped over 20 women.
The man originally worked as a security guard and got an army uniform stitched from Odisha.
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