NRI finds himself cheated in love and of Rs.1.3 mn

BHUBANESWAR: He thought he would be richer by a bride, but a Dubai-based non-resident Indian found himself poorer by Rs.1.3 million after professing his love to a woman he met in cyber space.

Jitendra Kumar Nayak, 27, a native of Ainipara village in Orissa's Kendrapada district, said he had been working in Dubai since 2003 and registered with a leading matrimonial site to find a life partner.

He received marriage proposals from several girls and after evaluating them, zeroed in on Kaveri Patra, 25, from Mulabasanta village, also in Kendrapada. Kaveri was working with an IT firm in Kolkata.

The two became friends around June last year and exchanged many e-mails subsequently.

But, according to Jitendra's complaint at the Pattamundai police station in the same district, not only did Kaveri cheat him of Rs.1.3 million but also married someone else in January this year.

"We have received the complaint from Jitendra through post. We are investigating the case," police officer C. Mallick said.

Jitendra alleged that during their friendship Kaveri urged him to pay for her father's heart surgery, her mother's treatment and money to start a new college in her village. She got funds from him regularly and assured him of returning the money soon, he said.

In her e-mails, Kaveri would allegedly request him to send money in her name as well as her company associates' names through online money transfer agencies like Western Union, UAE Exchange and State Bank Core Banking.

In this manner, Jitendra claims to have given Rs.1.3 million to Kaveri till Oct 21, 2007. Though she promised to repay the money within two months, she is yet to repay a single penny, Jitendra alleged in his complaint.

Jitendra further alleged that Kaveri married a different man, Jyotiranjan Jena, in January this year - something he found out through his contacts in Orissa. Both Kaveri and her husband are now working in Kolkata, he alleged.

Police officer Mallik said Kaveri has been charged with cheating under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and under the provisions of the Indian Information Act 2000. It is a cyber crime, he said.

Jitendra also sent copies of his FIR to the district superintendent of police and the chief minister and urged them to take necessary action against the woman who cheated him.