Delhi: Sikh man 'hypnotizes', dupes woman of Rs. 4,000
A woman from Assam has alleged that a Sikh man "hypnotized" her and made her pay nearly Rs. 4,000 after warning that her mother would die within a fortnight if she didn't give him the money in Delhi yesterday. Barkha Hazarika alleged that the man took her to a nearby ATM kiosk where he made her withdraw the money and then dropped her home.
Man told woman he was collecting money for Gurupurab celebration
In her complaint, Hazarika, who works with the media division of an NGO, said she was awakened when a Sikh man pressed the doorbell of her home when she was sleeping. When she looked out of the window, a Sikh man told her he was collecting money for Gurupurab celebration to be held at a gurdwara nearby, the woman said in the complaint.
Man tells woman her mother will die in 2 weeks
Hazarika said she gave the man a Rs. 200 note and asked him to take Rs. 50 and return the balance. "He kept all the money and when the building owner's maid came to clean the stairs, he came inside my room and sat there," she added. She got scared when he said her mother, who lives in Assam, would die in a fortnight.
Man said special prayer was required for her mother's safety
Hazarika further said that the Sikh man told her that they will have to do a 'paath' (special prayer) for her mother's safety and asked the woman for a piece of paper. Shortly after, she said she went into a trance and did not realize what was happening. She added that she started following the man's instructions.
Man manages to get more money from woman
"He asked me whether I have money in the house. Initially, I declined but later I gave him around Rs. 900 from my wallet," Hazarika said. She added that he asked her for more money and she told him that she would give him in the evening but he said she was lying and subsequently, she ended up giving him more money.
Accused makes woman withdraw Rs. 3,100 from ATM
The man then asked Hazarika to promise to god that she'll give him all the money. She took him to an ATM, where she withdrew Rs. 3,100 and gave it to him. He then dropped her near her home but she started going in the wrong direction. He thus directed her towards her house and told her to go upstairs and not turn back.
Nearby gurdwara had received similar complaints of people getting duped
"I returned to my room and then realized what had happened. I ran to my balcony and found he had disappeared. I searched for him in the locality, but there was no trace of him," Hazarika said. The woman said when she contacted the nearby gurdwara, she learned they had received similar complaints of people getting duped previously.
Police trying to identify accused through CCTV footage
Subsequently, Hazarika approached police and a case was registered at the Amar Colony police station in Southeast Delhi. Police said they are checking the footage from CCTV cameras installed in the area and trying to identify the accused.
