In a significant case of marriage fraud in Rohtas district, five people—including three women—were arrested by police and sent to judicial custody on Saturday. Authorities recovered Rs 1.32 lakh in cash, gold jewellery, and mobile phones from the accused, ASP Dehri Atulesh Jha said.
The case came to light on January 2, when police received a complaint about a fraudulent marriage involving Manoj Soni, a resident of Bhilwara, Rajasthan. He alleged that he was cheated of around Rs 1.40 lakh and gold ornaments, including a mangalsutra, anklets, toe rings, a nose ring, and a saree.
Following the complaint, a special team led by Dehri Nagar SHO Shivendra Kumar, with support from the DIU team, arrested Jaya Kumari Patel from Gori village under Kargahar police station. Based on her disclosure, Ragini alias Jhuni Devi was arrested from Karakat. Interrogation revealed the involvement of three more gang members: Dharmshila Devi (Aiyar Kotha), Abhishek Patel (Gori village), and Shravan Kumar (Anikat area).
Police said the gang targeted older men from outside the state who were struggling to find a life partner. The accused would arrange a fake marriage with Jaya Kumari Patel, collect a substantial sum in the name of the wedding, and then flee.
Further recovery from the accused included anklets, toe rings, a mangalsutra, a gold nose ring, Rs 1,32,850 in cash, and two mobile phones. Within a week, two men from Rajasthan fell victim to this gang in the Dehri subdivision.
The first victim, Manoj Soni, married Jaya Kumari Patel on January 2 at a temple in Anikat. The bride had falsely claimed her address as Gori village under Chenari police station, when it actually falls under Kargahar police station. Earlier, on December 30, another victim, Harchand Ram from Jalore district, Rajasthan, reported being cheated of nearly Rs 3 lakh in a similar fraudulent marriage.
Police continue to investigate the gang’s activities to prevent further incidents.
