Bollywood-Style Con Couple Nabbed for Rs 24 Lakh Scam
Duo duped aspiring actors with fake TV role promises.
Delhi Police have arrested a cunning couple, Tarun Shekhar Sharma, 32, from Lucknow, and Asha Singh alias Bhawna, 29, from Delhi, for orchestrating a nationwide fraud inspired by the Bollywood film Bunty Aur Babli. The duo, apprehended in a rented Bengaluru apartment, allegedly swindled aspiring actors out of crores by posing as TV serial and OTT platform producers, with their latest victim losing Rs 24 lakh.
The scam came to light after a Delhi woman, pursuing an acting career, responded to a Facebook advertisement promising roles in a Star Plus/Hotstar serial. The accused, posing as industry insiders like director “Piyush Sharma” and a supposed TV producer, convinced her to transfer Rs 24 lakh for processing fees, membership charges, and other pretexts. After receiving the funds, they blocked her, leaving her without the promised role. Delhi Police’s Cyber unit in the South West district traced the money trail, leading to the couple’s arrest on Friday.
During the raid, police seized seven smartphones, 10 SIM cards, 15 bank cheque books and passbooks, eight ATM cards, and a pair of gold earrings. Investigations revealed the couple operated a sophisticated racket, using multiple bank accounts and fake SIM cards across states to launder money. They frequently relocated, staying in luxury hotels like The Lalit and Crowne Plaza to evade detection, funding their lavish lifestyle with the proceeds of their scams.
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Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Amit Goel stated the duo is linked to over 20 similar complaints nationwide, including cases in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. “They trained themselves through online videos to perfect their con,” Goel said, highlighting their calculated approach. The couple faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating, with further investigations underway to identify additional victims and accomplices. This bust exposes the vulnerability of aspiring actors and the growing menace of cyber fraud targeting India’s entertainment dreams.
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