New Delhi: A shocking case of serial weddings has emerged from Rajasthan, where police have arrested a woman accused of marrying 32 unsuspecting grooms, only to vanish with their valuables before the honeymoon. This incident serves as a stark reminder for caution in the face of arranged marriages.Modus operandi of the Robber BrideThe woman, dubbed the robber bride by local media, allegedly targeted grooms through arranged marriage setups. Marrying under different names each time, she would skillfully manipulate situations to gain the trust of families.The honeymoon heistThe key aspect of the scam lay in the conspicuous absence of a honeymoon. Anita, as she identified herself in the most recent case, would make excuses to avoid celebrating the post-wedding tradition. This allowed her to disappear shortly after the wedding, leaving behind bewildered grooms and stolen money and jewelry, estimated to be in the lakhs (hundreds of thousands) for one victim.Police crackdown and a bigger networkFollowing a complaint from a recent victim, the Sangwara police in Banswara district launched an investigation. Anitas arrest has shed light on a potentially larger network of robber brides operating in Rajasthan. The 2022 arrest of another woman in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, with a similar modus operandi, raises concerns about a wider criminal enterprise.A call for vigilanceThis case underscores the importance of thorough background checks and due diligence before entering into marriage arrangements. While love stories can blossom unexpectedly, caution remains crucial in arranged marriage setups to avoid falling prey to such scams.
