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An overweight 66-year-old has been accused of duping 27 younger women into marrying him then running off with their money in what is being called India's biggest ever marriage scam.
Among Bibhu Prakash Swain's victims were high-ranking border police, a chartered accountant, teachers, a doctor, and even two Supreme Court advocates.
Despite being described as 'portly' and barely 5 feet 2 inches tall, the alleged fraudster was able to dupe so many women by targeting those in their 40s, while posing as a medical professional on a large salary, investigators have said.
According to reports, he allegedly used fake identification cards and appointment letters to bolster his credentials and family background to con the high-powered career women who came from all over the country.
It was originally reported that he had married 14 women, but police say they now believe it was 18, while the Hindustan Times newspaper reported there have been as many as 27 victims.
According to local reports, he kept the names of the women on his phone, along with where they were from. He was in touch with another 70 to 75 women who could have potentially been further victims.
Indian police were finally able to track down Swain, they said, after months of untangling his web of false identities which he maintained through the use of 128 forged credit cards.
'He primarily did this for their money, and some sexual pleasure,' senior police official Sanjiv Satpathy told AFP.
Satpathy's team arrested Swain in recent days after months on his trail, discovering his multiple identities, bank accounts, and plans for two weddings in February and March. He is said to have forged 128 credit cards and defrauded 13 banks
'He was always very persuasive,' Satpathy said, 'and only targeted successful single, widow
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