In a shocking case of matrimonial fraud, a woman from Kerala, Reshma Chandrasekharan, was arrested just minutes before marrying her latest target — a local panchayat member from Aryanad, Thiruvananthapuram. Police say she had previously married at least 10 men across different districts, using online matrimonial platforms to lure her victims.
The 30-year-old accused, a native of Kanjiramattom in Ernakulam and mother of a two-year-old child, was taken into custody by Aryanad Police on the morning of June 6, moments before the wedding ceremony was to begin.
According to authorities, the groom had grown suspicious of Reshma’s inconsistent behavior and decided to check her belongings. Inside her bag, he discovered documents revealing a recent marriage, just 45 days prior. Alarmed, he immediately filed a complaint, leading to her arrest at the wedding venue itself.
The groom told police he first connected with Reshma via a matrimonial website last month. During a meeting at a mall in Kottayam, she claimed she was adopted and that her adoptive mother was against the marriage. She painted a picture of emotional abuse to gain sympathy and trust.
Moved by her story, he agreed to marry her and arranged for the wedding on June 6. Reshma traveled to Vempayam in Thiruvananthapuram on the morning of the wedding and stayed at a friend’s house arranged by the groom. But her behavior raised red flags.
The discovery of marriage documents belonging to another man proved to be the tipping point. Police are now investigating her previous marriages and suspect a larger pattern of deceit for financial or other gains.
The case has sparked conversations around the dangers of online matrimonial scams and the need for stricter verification processes.
