Behind bars, 'phoren' dream merchant dupes jail staff of Rs 11 lakh

As strange as it may be sound, a man lodged in Patiala Central Jail on charges of cheating managed to cheat none other than a prison warder of Rs 11 lakh by selling him dreams of a fancy life abroad.

As strange as it may be sound, a man lodged in Patiala Central Jail on charges of cheating managed to cheat none other than a prison warder of Rs 11 lakh by selling him dreams of a fancy life abroad.

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Mohinder Chopra, who was already facing charges of emigration fraud, later got bail and remains at large, while the warder, Tarlochan Singh, has now filed a case.

A native of Bhiwani in Haryana, Chopra was in jail in 2009 when Tarlochan admittedly befriended him. "Chopra told me he had helped several people settle abroad. As I showed interest, he said he could first send my son, Sarabjit Singh, to Europe. As asked, my son delivered Rs 1 lakh as token money to start documentation at Chopra's house in Haryana," said Tarlochan.

By early 2010, Tarlochan had paid several installments. As per the FIR, he further alleges, "After Chopra came out on bail in February 2010, he took some more money from my son and handed him some documents to apply for visa to some European countries. However, the embassies found the documentation forged." Chopra has since jumped bail, though he remains to be declared a proclaimed offender (PO).