The Vadodara Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) on Monday nabbed a man accused of cheating a childless couple in Vadodara city, by disguising himself as a transgender and decamping with gold ornaments and cash entrusted to him by the couple for a “ritual to beget a child”. The DCB on Monday, also recovered the valuables worth Rs 5.62 lakh from the accused. According to the FIR lodged at Panigate police station by the couple, the accused Maheshnath Parmar (41), a resident of Padadhari in Rajkot district, met the couple last week while collecting funds for a religious ritual at Waghodia Road in the disguise of a transgender. When the accused arrived at the door of the complainant, she handed over Rs 20 to the accused as contribution when the accused requested for water. The complainant took the accused in and offered water, while narrating the “anguish” of not being able to have a child when the accused suggested a “ritual”. The couple then handed over their gold ornaments and Rs 1,200 in cash to the accused for the ritual. The accused then went to fetch items needed for the ritual and did not return. A DCB release stated Monday, “The accused returned to Vadodara in the disguise of a transgender to ask for alms. On receiving a tip-off, the team nabbed the accused and handed him over to Panigate police station.” Parmar has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections for criminal breach of trust (406) and cheating (420).
