In a significant case of marriage fraud in Rohtas district, police have arrested five people, including three women, from multiple villages. The accused were sent to judicial custody on Saturday. Authorities also recovered Rs 1.32 lakh in cash, gold jewelry, and cellphones from them, said ASP Dehri, Atulesh Jha.
On January 2, police received a complaint about a fraudulent marriage involving a man from Bhilwara, Rajasthan, who was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.40 lakh and gold ornaments, including a mangalsutra, anklets, toe rings, a nose ring, and a saree.
A special police team led by Dehri Nagar SHO Shivendra Kumar, with assistance from the DIU team, acted quickly to arrest Jaya Kumari Patel from Gori village (Kargahar police area). Following her statements, Ragini alias Jhuni Devi was arrested from Karakat.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of three more accomplices: Dharmshila Devi from Aiyar Kotha, Abhishek Patel from Gori village, and Shravan Kumar from Anikat. All were subsequently taken into custody.
Police revealed that the gang targeted older men from outside the state, struggling to find marriage partners. The accused would stage fake marriages with Jaya Kumari Patel, collect large sums under the pretense of wedding expenses, and then abscond.
Recovered items included anklets, toe rings, a mangalsutra, a gold nose ring, Rs 1,32,850 in cash, and two mobile phones. The raids involved Sub-Inspector Chandrahans Kumar, Alka Soni, and other personnel.
Within just one week, two men from Rajasthan became victims in the Dehri subdivision. Manoj Soni, from Bhilwara, filed an FIR alleging he was cheated of Rs 1.40 lakh and jewelry by Jaya Kumari Patel and her associates. He had married her on January 2 at a temple in Anikat, only to discover that her claimed address in Gori village (Chenari police area) was false, as it actually falls under Kargahar.
Earlier, on December 30, Harchand Ram from Jalore, Rajasthan, reported a similar marriage fraud in Nauhatta police station, claiming losses of nearly Rs 3 lakh.
Authorities continue investigating to ensure no further victims fall prey to this gang.
