A case of alleged fraud and exploitation has come to light in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, where a 21-year-old woman was allegedly lured into a relationship by a man who presented himself as unmarried on Shaadi.com. The accused allegedly promised to marry her, exploited her trust and later took cash and gold and silver jewellery worth around ₹12 lakh on the pretext of helping her secure a job. He subsequently fled with his wife, but police traced and arrested both of them in Ballabhgarh, Haryana, using technical evidence and bank transaction details.
The case falls under the jurisdiction of Torwa police station. The 21-year-old woman, originally from Korba, was living in the Torwa area of Bilaspur while preparing for competitive examinations. According to police, she came into contact with Pawan Kumar Yadav, a resident of Pamgarh, through the matrimonial website Shaadi.com. At the time, Pawan was reportedly living in the Sarkanda area.
According to the complaint, Pawan had described himself as unmarried on the matrimonial platform and gained the woman’s confidence. As their communication increased, he allegedly promised to marry her. Police said he allegedly exploited the woman after assuring her of marriage. He later allegedly asked her for cash and gold and silver jewellery on the pretext of helping her obtain employment. The woman reportedly told police that the total value of the cash and jewellery was around ₹12 lakh.
The woman filed a complaint at Torwa police station on March 9. After the case was registered, police began searching for Pawan. However, he allegedly went into hiding after learning about the complaint and kept changing locations with his wife, Navita Yadav.
Police conducted searches at suspected locations in Pamgarh and Sarkanda but initially failed to trace the accused. As efforts to locate him continued, a reward of ₹5,000 was announced for information leading to his arrest.
Wife’s Bank Account Provided Crucial Lead
Investigators examined Pawan’s mobile number, bank accounts and other technical information to establish his whereabouts. During the investigation, most of his bank accounts were found to be inactive or closed. However, transactions were still taking place through a bank account belonging to his wife, Navita Yadav.
Police closely examined the transactions in the account and found that money linked to the account had been withdrawn in Ballabhgarh, Haryana. The transaction trail provided investigators with an important lead in tracing the couple.
To further verify the activity connected with the account, the investigation team reportedly transferred ₹1 into it and monitored the subsequent activity. Police also examined banking records, details associated with a Common Service Centre and other available information linked to the account.
The information gathered from these sources helped investigators narrow down the couple’s location and begin efforts to trace them in Ballabhgarh.
Technical Evidence Leads Police to Couple
Based on the banking trail and other technical evidence, police identified the likely location of Pawan and Navita. A team subsequently conducted a search in Ballabhgarh and arrested both suspects.
Police identified the accused as 34-year-old Pawan Kumar Yadav, a resident of village Dudanga under Pamgarh police station in Janjgir-Champa district, and his 30-year-old wife, Navita Yadav. Both were brought to Bilaspur after being arrested in Haryana.
The accused and his wife were produced before a court on August 9, following which they were sent to judicial custody.
Police Examining Possibility of Other Victims
Investigators are now attempting to recover the cash and jewellery allegedly taken from the woman. Police are also examining the accused’s bank accounts, mobile phone records and other digital evidence to establish the complete sequence of events.
Investigators are also looking into whether Pawan had contacted other women through Shaadi.com or other matrimonial platforms using a similar approach. The possibility of additional victims and other alleged financial transactions is being examined as part of the investigation.
The case highlights the risks associated with trusting unverified identities on online matrimonial platforms. Presenting false information about marital status and personal background can be used to establish trust before victims are pressured into financial transactions.
Police are continuing to question the accused and his wife while examining the available financial and digital evidence. The investigation will focus on recovering the alleged ₹12 lakh worth of jewellery and cash, establishing the complete financial trail and determining whether the accused was involved in any similar cases.
