Mrinank Singh Former Cricketer, 25, Swindles Taj Palace and Rishabh Pant of Rs 1.6 Crore”
Mrinank Singh’s Multifaceted Impersonation and Fraudulent Schemes
On December 25, the Delhi Police apprehended a 25-year-old former cricketer on charges of defrauding several luxury hotels, including the Taj Palace, of substantial sums of money. Mrinank Singh, the accused, exploited Taj Palace in Delhi, extracting Rs 5.5 lakh from them in July 2022. Notably, Singh also deceived cricketer Rishabh Pant, swindling him of Rs 1.63 crore between 2020 and 2021.
The arrest took place at Delhi Airport as Singh attempted to escape to Hong Kong. The Delhi Police revealed that Singh’s deceptive tactics involved posing as a renowned cricketer who had purportedly played for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Additionally, he falsely claimed participation in the Ranji Trophy in 2021 and the IPL from 2014 to 2018, all while maintaining a lavish lifestyle.
Defrauding the Taj Palace Hotel
Singh’s apprehension stemmed from a complaint filed by the Director of Security at the Taj Palace Hotel with the Chanakyapuri police station in August. The complaint detailed Singh’s deceptive stay at the hotel from July 22 to 29, 2022, where he posed as a cricketer and departed without settling bills amounting to Rs 5,53,362.
Upon inquiry for payment, Singh claimed that his company Adidas would handle it and provided a counterfeit UTR number for an online transaction of Rs two lakh. However, the hotel, upon verification, discovered that no payment had been made by Singh, as confirmed by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Ravi Kant Kumar.
Efforts to contact Mrinank and his manager, Gagan Singh, were made, during which the conman assured the hotel staff that his driver would deliver the cash to settle the outstanding amount. Despite these assurances, Mrinank failed to fulfill his promises and neglected to make the payment, prompting the hotel to file a formal complaint.
Throughout the investigation, police issued notices to Mrinank’s address, but he remained unreachable. His father informed law enforcement that they had disowned and expelled Mrinank Singh from their properties due to a lack of control over his actions.
Swindling Rishabh Pant
Mrinank Singh’s fraudulent activities extended beyond luxury hotels, involving the deception of cricketer Rishabh Pant under the guise of a trader. According to the police, Singh misrepresented himself to Pant, claiming involvement in the buying and selling of luxury watches and jewelry. Exploiting Pant’s trust, the international cricketer handed over his watches with the intention of selling them. In return, the accused presented Pant with a cheque amounting to Rs 1.6 crore, which subsequently bounced.
In a 2022 exclusive interview with Sports Tak, Pant’s lawyer, Eklavya Dwivedi, revealed that Mrinank had informed the Indian cricketer about his new venture dealing in luxury items and offered to procure similar items for them at a highly reasonable cost.
Impersonating an IPS Officer
While in custody at the IGI Airport, Mrinank Singh made a fraudulent attempt to deceive immigration officials. He impersonated Alok Kumar, ADGP Karnataka, and contacted senior police officials, seeking assistance for his son, Mrinank Singh, whom he claimed had been “illegally detained” at the airport.
Throughout the interrogation, Mrinank Singh persistently attempted to mislead the police. He falsely asserted that his “father,” Ashok Kumar Singh, was a former international cricket player who had represented the Indian cricket team from the 1980s to the late 90s. Additionally, he claimed that his “father” currently served as a manager at Air India, stationed at the IGI Airport.
The police are currently in the process of verifying Singh’s assertions regarding his alleged cricketing career and other aspects of his background.
Mrinank Singh’s attempt to manipulate the situation did not stop at impersonating an IPS officer. While in detention at the IGI Airport, he went further in his deceptive tactics. Singh reached out to senior police officials, adopting the persona of Alok Kumar, ADGP Karnataka. Under this false identity, he sought assistance, alleging the “illegal detention” of his supposed son, Mrinank Singh, at the airport.
During the subsequent interrogation, Mrinank Singh persisted in his efforts to mislead law enforcement. He continued with a series of false claims, stating that his “father,” Ashok Kumar Singh, had a noteworthy cricketing career representing the Indian cricket team from the 1980s to the late 90s. Adding to the fabrication, he asserted that his “father” was currently employed as a manager at Air India, stationed at the IGI Airport.
The police are actively engaged in verifying the accuracy of Singh’s statements, examining both his alleged cricketing history and other aspects of his background. The intricate web of deception woven by Mrinank Singh continues to unravel as authorities delve deeper into the veracity of his claims and the extent of his fraudulent activities.
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