Delhi Police arrest woman posing as media executive for duping businessmen

Police said the woman, Payal Samuel, was wanted in three cheating cases — two in Bhopal and another in Delhi. They said she was last arrested in 2012 by the Madhya Pradesh police for allegedly duping a businessman in Bhopal by purchasing oil cans from him and issuing a cheque that bounced.

The Delhi Police on Thursday said they have arrested a 32-year-old woman from Mumbai, who allegedly used to dupe businessmen of their money by posing as the vice-president of leading media houses and private firms.

Payal Samuel was arrested on August 15 following investigation into a cheating complaint filed by Delhi-based travel agency owner who was cheated of ₹30 lakh. (Picture for representation)

Police said the con woman, Payal Samuel, was wanted in three cheating cases — two registered in Bhopal and another in Delhi. They said she was last arrested in 2012 by the Madhya Pradesh police for allegedly duping a businessman in Bhopal by purchasing oil cans from him and issuing a cheque that bounced.

Rajeev Ranjan, additional commissioner of police (crime), said Payal, who hails from Mumbai, was arrested on August 15 following investigation into a cheating complaint filed by Delhi-based travel agency owner, Ravi Patel, who was cheated of ₹30 lakh. Payal had allegedly tricked him into booking international and domestic air tickets, exchanging of foreign currency, and hotel bookings for her clients on credit.

Patel, in the complaint, told police that the woman claimed to be the vice president of a leading international news channel and purchased several air tickets, foreign exchanges and hotel bookings worth around ₹30 lakh within a month and half for her clients.

“As an inducement, she offered business worth crores of rupees to Patel. When he demanded his money, she started delaying the payment on frivolous excuses,” said Ram Gopal Naik, DCP (crime).

Suspecting her conduct, DCP Naik said, Patel and his suppliers checked about her on internet and found out that she had been making false claims. They found news articles about her cheating several businessmen in Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh using similar tactics. Patel then approached the crime branch and filed a complaint.