Inspired by Bollywood film, couple duped over a dozen aspiring models

NEW DELHI: Over a dozen young and beautiful aspiring models in Delhi, in search of a break in the entertainment industry, were entrapped by a 22-year-old young man and his wife, who lured them with glamourous assignments and duped them of lakh of rupees.

Delhi Police on Thursday said they have arrested Shubham – a resident of Uttam Nagar’s Ranhola area – and his wife, who ran an modelling agency by the name of ‘Dream of Success’.

Cops said that Shubham, posing as the casting director of the company, had created a fancy profile on Facbeook.

“He posted his number and his agency details on various social media platforms, guaranteeing the aspiring models chances in photoshoots or short films. He would also send multimedia messages to the aspiring youngsters, who had posted their profiles on social media,” said Deputy Commisioner of Police (South West) Devender Arya.

Explaining the modus operandi, cops said that whenever an aspiring model fell into the couple’s trap, the victim would be called them to a hotel near Mahipalpur. Then, Shubham would inform them that the shoot is being done by an international firm and the payment will be given to them in foreign currency. Later, he would keep the victims’ mobile phones and ask them to wait in their rooms.

Using the phones, he would transfer money from their accounts through UPI to his bank accounts and then flee with their phones and belongings.

“Over 15 aspiring models were duped and three cases of cheating have been registered at Vasant Kunj North police station on the complaints of victims,” said the officer.

Shubham used to approach struggling models on the pretext of events and would offer them good payment for the programmes. Moreover, as his woman was also involved, the models did not suspect his intentions.

Police sources said the couple got the idea of duping aspiring models from the Bollywood film ‘Bunty aur Babli’, after Shubham himself had received various setbacks in his attempt to become a model. He became financially unstable and took to crime, finding it to be a quick way to earn money.