Police have arrested six members of a marriage fraud racket, including a so-called “bride”, for cheating a family from Agra of ₹1.5 lakh on the pretext of arranging a wedding. The gang’s alleged kingpin remains absconding.
According to police, the fraud was executed through a well-planned operation involving fake marriage negotiations, staged rituals and coordinated intimidation. The accused targeted an Agra-based family seeking a bride for their son, Sachin, a resident of Trans Yamuna Colony.
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The racket came to light after Ajit, a resident of Daudpur in Chandauli district, contacted the family and claimed he could arrange a suitable match. Trusting the proposal, the family agreed and travelled to the Rajgarh police station area in Mirzapur as instructed by the gang.
On Monday, the family was taken to Bhagalpur village, where the accused demanded money in the name of wedding preparations, clothes and jewellery. Over the course of the day, the gang managed to extract ₹1.5 lakh from the groom’s family.
In the evening, a hurried wedding ceremony was conducted at a small temple in Vishunpura village, giving the impression that the marriage had been formally solemnised. Soon after, the group boarded an auto-rickshaw and set off towards Mirzapur.
However, the scam began to unravel at Nadihar market, when the bride complained of feeling cold and asked the groom’s family to stop so she could buy a sweater. Seizing the opportunity, she attempted to flee. Members of the groom’s family managed to catch hold of her, triggering a confrontation.
Within minutes, other members of the gang arrived at the spot and allegedly assaulted the groom’s relatives in an attempt to free the woman. A bystander alerted the police, who reached the location and exposed the fraudulent operation.
Police arrested the fake bride Manisha, a resident of Bhawanipur; Jiuti of Chokhra; Reeta of Mirzapur; Jitendra and his wife Mahima, residents of Chandauli; and Ramvilas, a resident of Savaiya Pattidari in the Saidraja area of Chandauli district. A cash amount of ₹30,000 was recovered from their possession.
Investigators said the group had been operating as an organised gang, targeting families desperate to arrange marriages quickly and exploiting social pressure and emotional vulnerability. The alleged mastermind of the racket managed to escape and is currently being traced.
Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether the gang was involved in similar incidents elsewhere. The arrested accused have been sent to jail, while efforts are on to arrest the absconding leader.
The case has once again highlighted the growing menace of marriage-related frauds and the need for greater caution while engaging unknown intermediaries for matrimonial arrangements.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
