A 25-year-old former cricketer, Mrinank Singh, has been arrested for allegedly swindling several luxury hotels, including the Taj Palace, of lakhs of rupees by staying in their suites without settling bills. Singh’s arrest unfolded at Delhi Airport as he was about to board a flight to Hong Kong.
The police say Singh was obsessed with luxurious lifestyle, staying at five-star hotels, partying with models, clicking photos with them, and travelling abroad with his girlfriends. Shockingly, he tricked cricketer Rishabh Pant also into giving him Rs 1.6 crore in 2021-22. Singh told Pant he dealt in luxury watches and jewelry, and Pant trusted him gave him his watches. But the police found out that Singh’s Rs 1.6 crore cheque to Pant bounced.
Additional DCP Ravikant Kumar said Singh played for the Haryana Under-19 team and also claims he represented the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
“In July 2022, he visited Taj Palace, claiming to be a famous cricketer who played in the IPL. He stayed for almost a week, running up a bill of around Rs 5.6 lakh. When he left, he assured the hotel that his sponsor, Adidas, would cover the expenses. However, the provided bank account numbers and card details turned out to be fake,” explained Kumar.
When contacted by the police and the hotel manager, Singh and his manager lied, saying they would send their driver with the cash. Further investigations revealed that Singh had deceived several luxury hotels. “At some, he posed as a senior police officer from Karnataka, while at others, he claimed to be a successful cricketer. Active on social media, he frequently posted selfies with women to project a false image of fame and numerous fans,” stated an officer. Police said since last year, they have sent multiple notices to Singh but he didn’t respond. His father also met the police and told them the family had disowned the cricketer.
Despite various attempts to locate Singh, he continuously changed his whereabouts and would switch off his phone, leading even his friends to believe he had moved to Dubai, as per the police. Subsequently, the police sought legal intervention, obtaining a non-bailable warrant and a lookout circular against Singh. “On Monday, while attempting to board a flight to Hong Kong, immigration officials detained him and handed him over to us,” Kumar added.
According to the police, Singh allegedly tried to manipulate immigration officials by posing as a high-ranking officer from Karnataka. Investigators disclosed that Singh, a former Delhi University student who later pursued an MBA in Rajasthan, asserted playing in the Ranji Trophy in 2021 for Haryana and in the IPL from 2014 to 2018 with the Mumbai Indians. The police are currently verifying the authenticity of these claims.
Another officer mentioned that Singh often portrayed his father as an international cricketer who represented India in the 1980s and currently works with Air India. The police discovered several questionable photos on Singh’s phone featuring him with young women and models. A spokesperson at Taj Palace in New Delhi stated, “We have been cooperating with the authorities and have extended all support during the investigation.”