India, Jan. 21 -- KANPUR The man claimed to have cracked the UPSC exam, flashed 'appointment letters' and promised that he would soon take charge as the district magistrate of Kanpur! Trusting him, a young woman fell prey to his marriage proposal and handed over cash and jewellery worth Rs.71 lakh - only to realise months later that the man she was preparing to tie the knot with was an imposter.

The Kanpur police registered a case of cheating, forgery and criminal intimidation against Nitesh Pandey, a resident of Chakeri, who allegedly posed as an IAS officer and duped his fiancee over six months on the pretext of marriage and a high-profile posting. He was booked under sections 316 (2), 352 and 351 (3) of the BNS, said police.

Accordin...