Police in Azamgarh have busted a suspected marriage fraud syndicate following the arrest of seven people, including two women, after a groom from Hardoi district was allegedly robbed of jewellery, clothing, and Rs 80,000 in cash shortly after his wedding. The victim had agreed to the match after being shown a woman’s photograph over WhatsApp, only to be forced out of a vehicle while travelling home from the temple where the ceremony took place.
The complainant, Rajkumar, a resident of Chhibraamau village under Bilgram police station in Hardoi, had accepted the proposal after his family approved the picture sent to his phone. Both parties agreed to solemnize the marriage at the Bandhwa Mahadev Temple, situated within the jurisdiction of the Bardah police station in Azamgarh district.
Groom Abandoned on Road Shortly After Temple Rituals
On Wednesday, Rajkumar arrived at the Bandhwa Mahadev Temple alongside his relatives to complete the wedding rituals in the presence of representatives from both sides. During the proceedings, the groom’s family presented the bride with gold ornaments, traditional clothing, and Rs 80,000 in cash.
The deception came to light almost immediately after the ceremony concluded and Rajkumar departed for his native village with his newly wedded wife. Near Bandhwa Mor, the woman’s purported father and several accompanying associates abruptly halted the vehicle, forced the groom onto the road, and sped away from the location with the bride, cash, jewellery, and other wedding gifts.
Seven Suspects Apprehended Near Kodahra Intersection
Upon realizing he had been defrauded, Rajkumar alerted his relatives. His father, Ram Bilas, promptly visited the Bardah police station to lodge an official complaint, prompting investigators to register a criminal case and launch a coordinated operation to trace the suspects.
Acting on local intelligence gathered during the investigation, police teams intercepted and arrested seven suspects on Friday near the Kodahra intersection. All seven individuals are residents of neighbouring Jaunpur district. Investigators identified them as Bajrangi Bind and Rambilas, both from Malhaj under Shahganj police station; Rajan Vishwakarma from Rochanpur and Madhuri, wife of Rinku, from Jasopur, both under Sarai Khwaja police station; Bahadur of Jamalpur; Jai Kishan, also known as Ajit, of Line Bazar; and Kareena, wife of Shivkumar, of Samodhipur under Gaura Badshahpur police station.
Cash, Ornaments and Two Motorcycles Recovered by Investigators
During the arrests, officers recovered Rs 19,650 in cash, alongside a pair of anklets, a mangalsutra, earrings, a sari, additional clothing items, and two motorcycles used by the syndicate. Police are examining the recovered ornaments and personal items to verify whether they match the valuables handed over by the groom’s family at the temple.
Investigators are now interrogating the seven suspects to determine each individual’s role in coordinating the alliance, staging the marriage rituals, and organizing the getaway. Police are also tracing the origin of the WhatsApp photograph used to deceive the victim and verifying whether the group has executed similar matrimonial frauds against other prospective grooms across the region.
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