Delhi police have arrested an Iranian woman for allegedly duping an Indian origin U.S. citizen at Indira Gandhi International Airport, an officer said on Thursday.
The accused, Fatemah Akbari, 52, was arrested from a guest house in Saket, south Delhi, while her husband, Mojtaba Zolfaghari, who was also allegedly involved in the crime, is at large.
The complainant, Baldev Singh, 70, said that he was approached by the Iranian couple and their child on June 20, near Departure Gate 7, around 10.45 p.m., and was requested to show an Indian currency note to their child, as he was insisting on it. Mr. Singh said he handed over ₹50 note to their child, which he returned. The couple also requested to show U.S. dollars to their child, and he handed over a bundle of notes, which was also returned.
Mr. Singh said that when he later checked the bundle, he realised that U.S. currency notes had been deceitfully replaced by Indian currency, and he had been cheated of $700.
Following the complaint by Mr. Singh, the police checked the CCTV footage and the car the Iranian family was travelling and found them living in Saket.
During interrogation, Ms. Fatemah said they were facing a financial crisis and, to make easy money, targeted foreign nationals in Lajpat Nagar, Connaught Place, Khan Market, and the airport.
The couple has been living in India under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees status, the officer added.
Published – June 27, 2025 01:19 am IST
