A bizarre and calculated fraud scheme came to light in Kharol village under Kothamba taluka of Mahisagar district in Gujarat, where a staged wedding ceremony concluded with the bride and her associates fleeing with cash and precious gold-silver ornaments. Following the abrupt disappearance of the newlywed impostor and her accomplices, a formal complaint was lodged at the Kothamba police station, setting off an extensive investigation by local law enforcement agencies.
Extortion and Police Crackdown
The victim, a farmer's son named Virat Patel residing in Kharol village within the Kothamba police station jurisdiction, was duped into a fraudulent marriage where the bride and various intermediaries systematically swindled a total of Rs 5,27,000. Distressed by the betrayal, the young man approached the authorities and registered a comprehensive cheating and fraud case against the bride, her purported parents, and the middlemen involved. Taking serious note of the incident, District Police Superintendent Safin Hasan issued strict directives to nab the absconding culprits without delay.
Acting under this guidance, Mahisagar SOG Police Inspector V. D. Dhorda spearheaded multiple specialized police teams to fast-track the probe. Out of the four primary suspects, authorities have successfully apprehended two individuals alongside the minor bride who executed the scam. However, the father of the bride remains at large, and police teams are conducting continuous raids to secure his arrest.
Rajasthan Connection and Arrests
During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the bride involved in the racket is a minor. Nevertheless, law enforcement successfully tracked down the brokers and fixers operating behind the scenes. Two key accused individuals were nabbed directly from the neighboring state of Rajasthan, identified as Natubhai Gohil and Nikitaben Chavda, while the minor female operative was also taken into custody for rigorous questioning regarding the wider network.
In a related legal step concerning the case proceedings, authorities have also indicated preparations to initiate legal provisions under POCSO against Virat Patel. Officials confirmed that the arrested individuals have been formally transferred to the Kothamba police station for further legal procedures. The swift and efficient operation executed by the Mahisagar SOG team has created panic among organized syndicates running fraudulent marriage rackets across the region.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated criminal incident reported from Vadodara, a young woman turned to crime to fund her boyfriend's extravagant lifestyle. The accused broke into her own uncle's residence to steal valuables, prompting police to arrest both the woman and her romantic partner following a prompt investigation.
