Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 23: Jammu Police in Chowki Choura, Akhnoor, have busted a major marriage fraud racket and arrested five individuals, including a woman who posed as a bride in a sham wedding.
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The case came to light on August 11 when Police Station Akhnoor registered an FIR Number 140/2025 under sections 318(4)/82(2)/61(2) BNS after receiving a complaint regarding fraudulent marriage arrangements. The investigation was taken up by Incharge PP Chowki Choura, Vinay Kotwal, under the close supervision of SHO Akhnoor and SDPO Akhnoor.
According to the complaint, Deepak Kumar, son of Baldev Raj of Dhana Chapri in Chowki Choura, approached Rashpal Chand, son of Chatru Ram of Dori Dager, Chowki Choura, with a marriage proposal from outside the Union Territory and demanded a sum of Rs 3 lakh. After the marriage was solemnized, the bride, along with her accomplices, fled within two days, thereby cheating the complainant.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the gang was operating a fraudulent nexus under the guise of a marriage bureau. The racket arranged everything, from the bride to the priest and other formalities, before duping unsuspecting victims. Shortly after marriage, the so-called bride would desert the complainant on some pretext, leaving the victims cheated. Due to social stigma, many people refrained from reporting such incidents, but in this case the timely complaint led to a breakthrough.
Five accused have so far been arrested in the case, including Deepak Kumar of Chowki Choura, Vikas Kumar of Poonch, Arun Kumar of Bihar, Istakhar of Uttar Pradesh, and Kusum Lata of Uttar Pradesh, who posed as the bride. The investigation is still ongoing and police have not ruled out more arrests. Significantly, four more similar cases-two from Akhnoor and two from Nagrota-have also surfaced and are under inquiry. The entire investigation is being closely monitored by SP Rural Jammu and SSP Jammu.
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