Morbi trader alleges Rs 19L ‘honey-trap’ fraud; woman, 2 others booked

Rajkot: A 31-year-old trader from Morbi has lodged a complaint with Morbi City A Division police alleging that a woman lured him into a relationship on the promise of marriage and later duped him of nearly Rs 19 lakh, gold jewellery and expensive mobile phones.

Based on the complaint, police have registered an FIR against Kajalkumari Mahto, who allegedly introduced herself as “Priya”, her alleged husband Sanjay, and an unidentified person accused of impersonating a police officer and issuing threats.

According to the FIR, the trader, who runs a grocery shop in Morbi’s Navadela Road area, came in contact with the woman around two-and-a-half years ago. Introducing herself as “Priya” and claiming to work at a spa in Morbi, she allegedly developed a close relationship with him before later revealing her real identity as Kajalkumari Mahto.

The complainant alleged that the woman claimed she was divorced and repeatedly promised to marry him. Trusting her assurances, he allegedly began extending financial assistance from March 2025 onwards.

Police said the trader alleged that the woman sought money citing house construction and family-related expenses. Over time, she allegedly obtained nearly Rs 19 lakh through cash payments and bank transfers. He also claimed to have gifted her gold jewellery worth over Rs 1.21 lakh and expensive mobile phones.

The relationship allegedly turned sour when the woman refused to marry him. When the trader sought the return of his money and valuables, she allegedly threatened to leak private photographs and videos and falsely implicate him in a rape case.

The complainant further alleged that in February, the woman called him to Gurugram on the pretext of returning the money and gifts. However, upon reaching there, he allegedly found that a complaint had already been lodged against him at a local police station. He claimed he was pressured into signing certain documents but returned without receiving any repayment.

The FIR further states that the woman’s alleged husband, Sanjay, and another unidentified individual posed as police and government officials and threatened the trader and his family over phone calls.

The case has been registered under the BNS Sections 308, 351(1) and 319(2).