UP Police Cracks Down on Elaborate 'Fraud Bride' Marriage Scam
In a significant crackdown on organized marriage fraud, the Uttar Pradesh Police has successfully dismantled a notorious criminal network operating under the guise of a 'looteri dulhan' or fraud bride gang. This sophisticated racket specialized in extorting substantial sums of cash and valuable jewelry from unsuspecting grooms' families immediately following wedding ceremonies.
Arrests and Seizures Made in Dhanpatganj Operation
Acting on a detailed complaint, the Dhanpatganj police executed a precise operation on Friday, resulting in the apprehension of four key accused individuals. The arrested include three women and one man, all allegedly central to the fraudulent scheme. During the arrest, authorities confiscated significant evidence including Rs19,500 in cash, two traditional anklets, four toe rings, a distinctive red-beaded mangalsutra, and an ornamental locket from their immediate possession.
Circle Officer Ashutosh Kumar of Baldirai provided crucial insights into the investigation's origins. "The case unfolded following a formal complaint lodged on February 11 by Jagdish, a resident of Mohanpura village under Balghat police station in Rajasthan's Karauli district," Kumar explained. The complaint detailed a distressing sequence of events involving his son's marriage.
Deceptive Marriage Arrangement and Immediate Extortion
The fraudulent scheme began when Jagdish's nephew, Manoj, introduced the family to Rajpal of Mathura, who proposed a marital alliance with a woman identified as Muskan, also known as Suman, aged 23 and residing in Langda Bazaar under Bhalauni police station in Deoria. The wedding ceremony proceeded as planned on February 10 at a Durga temple located in Laipar, Deoria, creating an appearance of legitimacy.
However, immediately after the marriage rituals concluded, the situation took a sinister turn. The accused individuals—identified as Sunil Kumar from Vishunpur, Shashi Bharti from Betalpur, Rani Nisha from Langda Bazaar, and the bride Suman herself—initiated a series of escalating financial demands. When the groom's family demonstrated resistance to these unexpected requests, they faced explicit threats of false criminal cases being filed against them.
Escalating Demands and Highway Confrontation
According to the detailed complaint, the groom's family had already disbursed Rs1.1 lakh alongside an additional Rs7,000 during the return of the wedding procession. The extortion reached a critical point near Benipur on the Purvanchal Expressway, where the accused deliberately stopped the family's vehicle at a roadside eatery. There, they demanded an extra Rs64,000, coupling this demand with specific threats to implicate the groom in fabricated cases of human trafficking and rape if their financial requirements were not met immediately.
Recognizing the elaborate nature of the deception, Jagdish promptly alerted the Dhanpatganj police. Acting swiftly on this critical tip-off, law enforcement officers strategically positioned themselves and successfully arrested all four accused near the Benipur underpass on Thursday, preventing further criminal activity.
Investigation Reveals Wider Criminal Network
Police authorities have confirmed that a First Information Report has been officially registered, and a comprehensive investigation is currently underway. Investigators are focusing on tracing the gang's wider network and identifying other potential victims who may have fallen prey to similar fraudulent schemes.
"This criminal gang systematically used forged identities to arrange marriages, gain the trust of families through apparent normalcy, and then extort money and jewelry by threatening false allegations and defamation," a senior police official stated. Authorities are actively probing whether this organized network targeted multiple families across different regions, suggesting the possibility of a more extensive criminal operation.
The case highlights growing concerns about marriage-related frauds in certain regions and demonstrates police vigilance in addressing such organized criminal activities that exploit traditional social institutions for financial gain through intimidation and deception.
