New Delhi: The promise of a big break in modelling and becoming the face of a reputed brand turned into a nightmare for several aspiring models after a man, who allegedly posed as a fashion and event management businessman, offered them fake modelling contracts and even promises of marriage.Police arrested Kaushik Raj (30) for duping aspiring models and others of around Rs 33.5 lakh through forged modelling agreements and fabricated wedding plans.DCP (east) Rajeev Kumar said: “The case came to light after a woman lodged a complaint at Mandawali police station on July 10, alleging that the accused befriended her on Instagram. He claimed that he ran a fashion, advertising and event management business. He also promised her modelling assignments with a reputed mobile manufacturing company.”Police alleged that Raj also became romantically entangled with the woman and repeatedly promised to marry her. To convince her family, Raj introduced himself as their prospective son-in-law, submitted a fabricated biodata showing fake business credentials and inflated income, and falsely claimed ownership of luxury vehicles and properties.Investigators said the man prepared forged agreements for “exclusive modelling” contracts in the name of a reputed phone company and persuaded the complainant and several other aspiring models to deposit refundable security amounts for the assignments.From the complainant, Raj also took money on the pretext of arranging for the engagement ceremony, hotel bookings, travel, boutique registration and other wedding-related expenses.The fraud was uncovered after the complainant verified that the modelling agreements were fake and that no bookings or assignments ever existed.Police said Raj had also allegedly used the complainant’s credit card without her authorisation. He continued demanding money even after his deception was exposed.Police said Raj, a BTech dropout from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, allegedly used multiple identities and spent the cheated money on luxury travel, clubs and branded electronic gadgets.He was previously arrested in an online concert ticket fraud case and is also wanted in a cheating case registered in Maharashtra.Police said several complaints following a similar modus operandi are pending against him in Delhi, Maharashtra, Noida, Gurgaon and West Bengal.
