Mrinank Singh, a 25-year-old conman with a background as a former U-19 cricketer for Haryana, orchestrated an elaborate scheme to indulge in a lavish lifestyle by posing as an IPL cricketer. His deceptive practices involved cheating luxury hotels, resorts, and even duping India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant.
This fraudulent operation unfolded with Mrinank assuming the identity of an IPL cricketer associated with the Mumbai Indians from 2014 to 2018. Mrinank leveraged his claimed popularity as a cricketer to influence women, enjoy fine dining experiences in upscale restaurants, and stay in luxurious five-star hotels—all without settling bills.
In one instance in 2022, he spent a week at the Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi, accumulating a bill of ₹5.53 lakh. Leaving without payment, he assured the hotel staff that Adidas would cover the expenses, providing them with a fake transaction ID. The hotel’s attempts to reach him were futile, and the police were eventually notified of the incident.
ALSO READ: Pre-Tour Fireworks: Ben Stokes Fires Back At Steve Harmison’s Doubts Over England’s India Prep
Aware of the police pursuit, Mrinank turned off his phone to evade detection, creating a facade that he had settled in Dubai. However, a lookout notice led to his detention at the Delhi airport’s immigration office on December 25, nearly a year after the Taj Palace incident.
View this post on Instagram
Undeterred, Mrinank attempted another deception at the immigration office, using a backup identity as an IPS officer from Karnataka named Alok Kumar. He called senior police officials, claiming his son (referring to himself) was unlawfully detained at the airport. Despite these efforts, the police saw through his ruse and apprehended him.
During his arrest, Mrinank misled the police by falsely asserting that his father, Ashok Kumar Singh, was a former Indian cricket team player and current Air India manager at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
View this post on Instagram
Further investigations revealed Mrinank’s extensive deception, including defrauding Rishabh Pant of ₹1.63 crore in 2020-2021. His victims spanned cab drivers, young women, bars, restaurants, and others. With over 40,000 Instagram followers, Mrinank portrayed a fraudulent “luxury lifestyle.”
ALSO READ: Ravi Shastri Slams Tactics As India Falter In Centurion Boxing Day Test
Upon examining his phone, the police discovered objectionable photos and incriminating material, suggesting involvement in drug purchases. Multiple cases have been registered against him in various states. Despite holding a Commerce degree from Delhi University’s Hindu College and an MBA in Human Resources from OPJS University in Rajasthan, Mrinank’s family has disowned him, citing a lack of control over his actions. He is currently in two-day police custody, and investigations are ongoing.
