Police Bust Fake Marriage Racket in Maharashtra After Bride's Escape Attempt

Police are actively searching for additional members of the gang involved in the scheme.

Beed:

On Tuesday, authorities in Maharashtra's Beed district dismantled a fraudulent marriage operation with the arrest of a woman who allegedly participated in a scheme to defraud grooms by arranging fake marriages for monetary gain.

The woman was apprehended while attempting to escape from her newly established in-laws' residence shortly after her wedding ceremony with a 36-year-old man.

Law enforcement officials are continuing their search for other accomplices in the operation. A formal case has been registered against the arrested woman and three additional suspects.

According to police reports, an intermediary allegedly collected Rs 1.90 lakh from the victim, Nagesh Jagtap, who resides in Kodri village within Ambajogai tehsil, with promises of arranging a marriage match.

The wedding ceremony uniting Jagtap and Priti Raut took place at approximately 12:30 PM in a temple located in Kaij tehsil. Following the ritual, the newlyweds and their family members traveled together to Kodri village.

However, at around 4:30 PM, the bride allegedly attempted to flee under the pretext of using the washroom. Her suspicious movement caught the attention of a vigilant villager who promptly alerted Jagtap's family members. A search was immediately organized, resulting in her discovery near the Dighol Amba bus stand, according to an official statement.

During interrogation, authorities uncovered a deliberate conspiracy to defraud Jagtap through a fraudulent marriage arrangement.

Based on Jagtap's formal complaint, police filed an FIR against Raut, her aunt, the marriage agent, and another individual involved in the scheme.

A police representative indicated that investigators will question a local notary who prepared the legal documents and a computer operator who allegedly created falsified identification, including a counterfeit Aadhaar card in the groom's name, prior to the wedding ceremony.

A tehsil court has ordered Raut to remain in police custody until December 10.