Conman 'husband' arrested in Chennai

Chennai, March 20 (IANS) He had married at least three women and was planning to marry many more, but was caught when his newest 'wife' picked up a call from another wife and the two women realised he had cheated on them. The man, a 31-year-old post-graduate, has been arrested, the police here said Friday.

T. Kumar was arrested on charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating and other charges. He has been remanded in judicial custody Friday, the police said.

'Kumar has admitted to an ambition to marry at least 25 women in the next decade. Charges of bigamy will be added upon receipt of a complaint from his first wife,' an official told IANS.

According to police sources, Kumar's game was up when a telephone call from Dhanalakshmi, 21, an earlier victim, was attended to by his newest 'wife' Sarala, 22, Friday, leading to the two women realising they had married the same person.

When Sarala's relatives questioned him, Kumar admitted to having married three women. He also admitted to having children by them. When the police examined Kumar's phone records, they found SMSs from several intended victims. The details of the women are being checked, the police sources said.

K. Sukumar, the brother of one the wives, told IANS: 'I unsuspectingly gave my sister's hand in marriage to Kumar after he revealed that he was an orphan from a reputed ashram on the outskirts of the city. He produced original educational certificates. Our suspicions were aroused when he began demanding extra money 'for expenses'.'

Kumar was employed in a reputed private educational institution and is said to have collected over Rs.250,000 as dowry and nearly Rs.1 million worth of gold jewels, some of which have allegedly been pledged by him to plan future alliances networked through greedy marriage brokers, Sukumar added.