NAGPUR: A 42-year-old man from Mumbai, posing as a suitor on social media, drugged and raped a 47-year-old woman in Nagpur and siphoned off 12 lakh from her and her brother under the pretext of big returns from stock market investments. The accused, Kalpesh Kakkad, now in police custody, is also linked to a similar offence in Hyderabad, pointing to a wider web of exploitation across cities, said police.
Senior police inspector Arun Kshirsagar of Jaripatka police station said, Kakkad gained the woman’s trust through online interaction on Facebook, promising marriage and financial growth. In January 2024, he allegedly visited her home in the city and got engaged to her. Following that he administered a numbing substance and forcibly established physical relations. Alongside, he allegedly conned her and her brother into handing over 12 lakh for fake investments and did not return a rupee.When she confronted him, Kakkad allegedly resorted to threats, saying he would leak her private photos and videos if she pursued marriage or legal action. The woman eventually approached police with a detailed complaint, prompting swift action.He was arrested from Pune early Wednesday in the Khadki area of Pune, confirmed police. Following the complaint filed in Pune on Tuesday evening by the victim, the case was transferred to Jaripatka police under jurisdictional procedure. Kakkad is currently in police custody remand till June 7.Investigations reveal Kakkad may have executed a similar pattern of exploitation in other cities. Two zero FIRs, one each for the Nagpur and Hyderabad incidents, were earlier registered by Pune Police and routed to respective jurisdictions. While no woman has officially lodged a complaint in Pune, sources confirmed that during a financial fraud probe hotel records from Pune revealed Kakkad had checked in with another woman under suspicious circumstances.Police sources said, Kakkad has been operating a calculated con across cities, following a similar modus operandi. Investigators are now combing through his travel logs, financial transactions, and digital data trails to identify more victims. Authorities have urged other women who may have been targeted by Kakkad to step forward and assist in the expanding investigation.
