Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): City’s well-known dermatologist who dreamt of entering the entertainment industry was allegedly duped of Rs 10 lakh by a fraudster promising him a spot on the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss.
The incident came to light after the doctor lodged a complaint at Chunabhatti police station, leading to a case of fraud being registered against the accused, police said here on Monday.
According to police, 36-year-old Dr Abhinit Gupta, owner of Poison Anti-Aging Skin Clinic on Kolar Road, is a resident of Friends Society, Chunabhatti. In October 2022, he was approached by a man named Karan Singh alias Prince, a resident of Andheri West, Mumbai, who claimed to be the director of an event management company.
Karan allegedly promised Dr Gupta backdoor entry in Bigg Boss for a fee of Rs 50 lakh. Trusting the offer, the doctor paid an advance sum of Rs 10 lakh with the assurance that he would be part of the next season's contestant lineup, said police.
However, when the list of contestants was officially announced, Dr Gupta's name was missing. Even after the following season, his hopes of entering the show dashed.
Repeated attempts to contact Karan Singh proved futile as he allegedly began ignoring calls and messages. After several months of trying to recover the money, Dr Gupta finally lodged a complaint at Chunabhatti police station in July 2023.
Officials said that following an investigation, police registered a case related to cheating and criminal breach of trust. Efforts to trace the accused are underway.
