India, March 2 -- A 36-year-old man from Virar was arrested on Saturday for allegedly defrauding several women of lakhs of rupees by promising marriage through matrimonial websites and apps. The accused created a fake profile, posing as a wealthy and eligible bachelor to trap victims, the police said.

According to the police, the accused, Viraj Bala Saheb Bhonsale, allegedly impersonated a senior executive at a reputed firm, a film industry director and even a business tycoon based abroad to gain the trust of vulnerable women. After establishing contact, he would claim to have run into financial trouble and seek money from them.

"Bhonsale flaunted bundles of cash during video calls to project an image of affluence. He promised marriage ...