TL;DR: On October 19–20, 2026, Odisha media reported that police arrested a 39-year-old man in Goa who allegedly posed as a Bhubaneswar doctor on a matrimonial website and cheated several women, mostly widows, of about ₹1.19 crore. One widow alone sent nearly ₹60 lakh after fake medical reports and video calls. Police froze about ₹12.31 lakh.
What happened
According to OdishaTV, Odisha Police arrested a 39-year-old man in Goa on October 19, 2026 for allegedly cheating several women of Rs 1.19 crore by posing as a doctor and promising marriage. Sambad English reports that the Ganjam Cyber Crime Police identified him as Jinu Sahani, alias Rakesh Rajput, a native of Peonpada village in Kandhamal district. These are police allegations; the case has not been tried.
Police say he used the name “Sai Krupa Das” and has been running fake matrimonial profiles since 2015, often targeting widows. Cases are registered at police stations in Bhubaneswar and Konark and with the Berhampur Cyber Crime Police Station.
How the trap worked
The complaint that cracked the case came from a widow in Bhanjanagar, Ganjam, who had put up a profile on a matrimonial site to remarry. Sambad English names the platform as Jeevansathi. Police say the accused:
- won her trust with promises of marriage, photos and video calls;
- sent forged medical documents on WhatsApp, saying his father was seriously ill and later died, and that he needed money for his own treatment;
- claimed his bank account was frozen and took control of her bank account.
She mortgaged her gold jewellery and borrowed from family to send nearly ₹60 lakh to several bank accounts. Our explainer on common matrimonial scams in India shows how often the “sick relative” and “frozen account” stories repeat.
What police seized
Officers recovered seven mobile phones, seven SIM cards, fake rubber stamps, a forged court order, a fake SBI demand draft receipt and several ID cards, and froze or put on hold about ₹12,31,976 linked to the case. A co-accused, Uttam Kumar Sahu alias Miki, was arrested earlier and sent to court on August 2, 2026. Police say the investigation is continuing.
Red flags from this case
- A “doctor” or other professional who never meets you but always has a medical or family emergency.
- Documents, reports or court papers sent only as photos on WhatsApp.
- Any request to share your bank login, OTP or debit card, even “just for a few days”.
- Pressure to keep the relationship secret from family until the wedding.
Before you trust a profile, verify the matrimonial profile and run the photos through a reverse image search. Parents managing a profile for a widowed son or daughter can use our matrimonial privacy guide for parents.
If you or a parent has already paid
Call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in as fast as you can, and tell your bank. Our guides on filing a 1930 complaint, the golden hour fund freeze and matrimonial scam recovery steps explain what to expect. Fraudsters find widowed and remarrying profiles easily when phone numbers and emails are already exposed, so run our free digital footprint check to see what of yours is out there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money was involved?
Media reports put the total at about ₹1.19 crore from several women. One widow from Bhanjanagar sent nearly ₹60 lakh.
Who was arrested?
Ganjam Cyber Crime Police arrested Jinu Sahani, alias Rakesh Rajput, 39, of Kandhamal district, in Goa. These are allegations and the case is under investigation.
Which matrimonial site was used?
Sambad English reports that the widow met him on Jeevansathi. Police say he used fake profiles on matrimonial sites since 2015.
What should I do if a matrimonial match asks for money?
Stop paying, verify the person independently, and report to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in and your bank straight away.
Sources
- OdishaTV: Rs 1.19 crore fraud, fake doctor used matrimonial sites to cheat women (Oct 20, 2026)
- Sambad English: Man cheats woman of ₹60 lakh through matrimonial site in Odisha; accused arrested in Goa (Oct 19, 2026)
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in)