The police in Maharashtra's Nagpur district have busted a four-member gang that arranged weddings for a fee and cheated the groom's family, an official said on Saturday.
The gang would present one of its female members as the bride and collect Rs 50,000 from the other side. The "bride" would then flee the groom's home the day after the wedding, he said, explaining the gang's method to con people.
The arrest of Satish Deepak Hirekhan (27) and Amit Tekam, Pardi residents of Nagpur, Seema (35) and Sonu (32), a mother of two, came on a complaint by one Manohar Meshram (67) of Wakeshwar village in Mauda tehsil.
While Sonu posed as the bride and married Meshram's son Pravin on February 2, Seema collected Rs 50,000 from his family. Sonu vanished the next day and Seema did not respond to calls from the Meshram family, raising suspicion. They soon learnt about many more families like them.
Acting on a tip-off, the Aroli police conveyed to Seema through a mutual acquaintance that a family was looking for a bride.
The police then laid a trap and arrested Seema and other members of the gang on Thursday, he said, adding that Sonu has a 12-year-old son and a nine-year-old daughter.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Poll Body Changes Maharashtra Police Chief After Opposition Alleges Bias Maharashtra Polls: Rs 86.50 Lakh In Cash Recovered From Car In Mumbai Rs 5 Crore Seized From Car Amid Model Code Of Conduct In Maharashtra AR Rahman, Wife Saira Announce Separation After 29 Years Of Marriage Amid Souring Ties With India, Canada's Latest Move Inconveniences Fliers Air India Flight From Paris Diverted To Jaipur, Fliers Sent To Delhi On Bus Ukraine Will Lose If US Cuts Military Funding, Says President Zelensky Fact Check: No, Centre Has Not Raised Age Of Retirement To 62 AILET 2025 Admit Cards To Be Out On November 28 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.