Matrimonial Fraud Gang Busted in Ghazipur, Two Women Arrested

A matrimonial fraud gang operating in Ghazipur was dismantled after two women were apprehended by local authorities. The incident unfolded on Saturday evening when victims from Rajasthan, suspicious of the women’s intentions, drove to the Mirzamurad police station for assistance.

According to Pramod Pandey, an officer at the Mirzamurad police station, an FIR was registered following a complaint by Bhanu Jaga, a resident of Rajgarh in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. Alongside the woman who posed as the bride, known as Puja, another accomplice named Kiran was also arrested. Two additional gang members, Nisha and Nandlal, managed to evade capture.

The investigation revealed that Jaga’s family was seeking a bride for his brother, Girish. Nandlal, a resident of Yusufpur in Jamnia, contacted them via phone and proposed to arrange the marriage for a fee of Rs 180,000. Trusting his offer, the family traveled to Ghazipur and handed over the money. They were then introduced to Puja, who allegedly married Girish in a hotel ceremony.

After the wedding, Jaga and his family set off for Rajasthan in an SUV, accompanied by Puja and Kiran. While traveling along the Ring Road in the Rakhouna area of Mirzamurad, Puja feigned a stomach ache, prompting the family to stop the vehicle. This raised suspicions among Jaga and his brother, who quickly directed the driver to the nearest police station.

At the police station, Puja created a scene, claiming she was being abducted. However, Jaga and his brother presented a video of the wedding rituals to the police, which exposed the women’s connection to a larger fraud scheme targeting individuals from Rajasthan and beyond. Further questioning revealed that Puja’s real name was Rekha and that she was the mother of four children. She, along with Kiran and Nisha, hailed from Durgawati in Bihar.

As the newlyweds were escorted to safety, Nandlal and Nisha were observed following the SUV in another vehicle, apparently intent on reclaiming Puja and Kiran. However, when the family unexpectedly took a different route to reach the police outpost, Nandlal lost track of them.

The bust of this fraudulent operation highlights growing concerns over matrimonial scams, particularly those targeting individuals looking to marry from different states. Local authorities are urging potential victims to exercise caution when engaging with individuals online or through intermediaries.