Ahmedabad: Gir-Somnath district’s local crime branch (LCB) in Gujarat on Saturday arrested five persons and busted a gang that cheated wannabe grooms.
Police, who acted on a complaint by one Ajaysinh Solanki, suspect many others have been cheated by the gang.
The accused — identified as Kausar Bano, Muskan Mirza, Shamim alias Seema Joshi, Narsinh Vaja and Nagdev Hiralal — have been booked for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy under Indian Penal Code.
Solanki (31) tied the knot with Rinkle Pandya in February. On the 10th day of their marriage, Rinkle fled with cash, gold and other valuables from the house.
He filed a complaint with the Sutrapada police on March 8, following which the LCB started a hunt for the Looteri Dulhan.
LCB received information that Rinkle’s real name was Kausar Bano and arrested her. They found her forged birth certificate, Aadhar card and cash worth Rs 30,000. Her arrest led to the arrest of others accused of cheating wannabe grooms by forging identity documents and changing their faith too.
The mastermind of the racket was found to be Muskan’s husband Riyaz, who is on the run.
Vaja, Muskan — who changed her name to Komal — along with Hiralal and Shamim worked as agents to hunt for wannabe grooms and fleece them into marrying women from their gang.
“Riyaz would forge Aadhar cards and school leaving certificates of gang members and change their names as well as religion,” police inspector In-charge LCB Arvindsinh Jadeja told The Times of India.
Solanki had asked his friend to find a bride for him, and the latter contacted Vaja whom he had known earlier. Vaja sent him two photos including that of Kausar Bano, saying that her name was Rinkle Pandya. Solanki expressed his desire to marry her and the marriage was registered at Bantva Gram Panchayat of Amreli district.
Vaja, Shamim, Deepak, Riyaz and Komal signed as witnesses. Vaja took Rs 20,000 and Shamim Rs 14,000 from Solanki as their match-making fees.
Muskan, Riyaz and Deepak also charged Rs 90,000 for arranging the marriage which Solanki paid.
“Their modus operandi was to identify young men who were desperately looking for brides, charge commission money and marriage arrangement charges from them. The woman used to stay with the groom for a few days and then flee,” told Jadeja The Times of India.
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