Bride vanishes with cash, jewellery days after wedding; FIR filed

Jaipur: Kardhani police have registered an FIR against a woman, three alleged marriage brokers and other suspected members of a marriage fraud racket after a 42-year-old Kalwar Road resident alleged that his bride disappeared with cash and jewellery worth about Rs 3.5 lakh just eight days after their wedding. The case was registered Sunday following directions from a local court.

According to the complaint, the man met three persons identified as Vicky Pandit, Rakesh and a woman during a visit to Agra in Jan this year. After learning that he was unmarried, they allegedly offered to arrange his marriage with a “good girl” from a poor family and told him he would have to bear all wedding-related expenses.

“The complainant alleged that after he agreed to the proposal, the accused collected Rs 1.5 lakh in the name of marriage expenses. He also purchased jewellery worth around Rs 3 lakh and a mobile phone for the bride. After completing legal formalities in a court in Agra, the marriage was solemnised on Jan 16 in the presence of the woman’s mother,” said a police officer, quoting the FIR.

Police said the couple reached Jaipur on Jan 20 and lived together for about a week. On Jan 29, the woman allegedly told her husband that her family had called her home and suggested they travel to Agra.

“After the couple reached Agra Cantonment railway station, the woman allegedly asked her husband to fetch water. By the time he returned, she had disappeared. Repeated attempts to contact her failed as her mobile phone was switched off,” the officer said.

After returning to Jaipur, the complainant allegedly found jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh and cash of Rs 50,000 missing from an almirah. He also discovered that the mobile numbers of the brokers had been switched off.

Suspecting a planned marriage fraud, the man approached the court, which directed police to register an FIR.

“We have registered a case and initiated an investigation based on the mobile numbers and location details provided by the complainant,” a police officer said.

Police said it is not yet clear why the complainant waited nearly four months before seeking registration of the FIR.