New Delhi: A shocking incident has emerged from Chhattisgarhs Durg where a businessman fell victim to a marriage scam. The fraud involved a substantial amount of ₹17.5 lakh, which was deceitfully obtained under the pretense of arranging a marriage for the businessmans son. The scam was executed by a marriage agent who exploited the familys specific requirements and the grooms advanced age to carry out the deceit.Family struggles to find a jain bride for 43-year-old sonThe businessman, seeking a Jain bride for his 43-year-old son, encountered difficulties in finding a suitable match due to the grooms age and the familys religious preferences. The family, consisting of five daughters who had been married off earlier, found it challenging to secure a bride for their son. To address this, they reached out to Mahavir Jain in Surat, who recommended Sarla, a marriage agent from Indore.Sarla presented a biodata for a prospective bride named Purva Bharti Jain. The grooms family visited Indore to meet the bride, where they were introduced to a young man who claimed to be Purvas younger brother. The family was assured that Purva and her family were indeed Jain, aligning with their religious requirements.Grooms family pays ₹17.5 lakh for the weddingTo finalize the match in wedding, Sarla demanded an initial fee of ₹1.5 lakh from the grooms side. The grooms family paid ₹11,000 as a preliminary gesture and further negotiations led to a total expense of approximately ₹16 lakh for the wedding. Sarla and her associates continued to request additional funds, eventually collecting ₹17.5 lakh in total.The payments were made in several installments: ₹5.5 lakh upfront, followed by ₹3 lakh during the engagement on April 23, and the remaining ₹8.9 lakh at the wedding held in a hotel in Indore on May 3.Deception unveiled on wedding nightThe deception came to light on the wedding night. The groom became suspicious of the brides identity and requested to see her Aadhaar card. Initially, the bride avoided showing the card, heightening the grooms doubts. Eventually, the groom obtained the Aadhaar card independently and discovered discrepancies. The brides name and surname did not match the details provided earlier. This revelation led to the groom realizing that the bride was not from the Jain community as claimed but had a completely different background.Mastermind Sarla and her 6 accomplicesThe police investigation revealed a complex web of deceit involving seven individuals. At the center of the scam was Sarla who is the mastermind marriage agent. She was aided by Mahavir Jain, a contact in Surat who recommended her services. The fake bride, Purva Bharti Jain, was presented as the perfect match, accompanied by Shantilal Gandhi, who posed as her father and her so-called younger brother who played along with the charade. Additionally, Purvas fake family members were part of the scheme, while unidentified associates helped collect the fraudulent payments, bringing the total number of scammers to seven. Investigation underwayUpon discovering the fraud, the groom filed a complaint with the police, leading to an investigation. The police investigation revealed that not only was the brides identity false, but all involved parties had provided incorrect names and information. The case is currently under investigation, and legal proceedings against the accused individuals are ongoing.
