NEW DELHI, Sep. 06, 2004
TNN

Flanked by a Canadian woman, an NRI came to India and impressed upon a businessman to marry the woman ostensibly to facilitate his migration to the country. All in lieu of Rs 10.5 lakh. Small matter that immediately after the marriage the woman left for Canada with the NRI leaving her 'husband' to cool his heels here.

A Canadian national, Joginder Singh (50), was arrested on Saturday night on charges of cheating Jullandhar resident Amrik Singh of Rs 10.5 lakh. Singh had flown down to Delhi last yearto attend a marriage reception where he met Amrik. Singh was accompanied by a Canadian woman, Queenie Nigen.

Amrik apparently wanted to migrate to Europe or US. "Singh told him that Canada offered better opportunities and proposed that Amrik should get married to Nigen. This, he said, would increase his chances of migration," said an officer.

Amrik agreed to marry her and paid Rs 5 lakh to Singh as his commission. After marriage, however, Singh left for Canada with Nigen saying that he needed her there to arrange visa for Amrik.

After that Amrik received no communication from Singh. When he called him up Singh said that he would come to India soon. A few months later, Singh met Amrik in Delhi and said that the Canadian authorities had refused to grant visa to him. "He again told Amrik that his migration could still be possible if he became a magician," said the officer.

Singh even took Amrik to a magician in Patel Nagar for training and asked him to shell out Rs 5.5 lakh. As soon as he received the money from, Singh fled to Canada. Amrik then approached the police. A police inquiry revealed that there were three more similar complaints against Singh from Punjab.