Man duped of Rs 1.5 lakh on pretext of marriage, bride disappears

Jitesh Sharma, a resident of Sahi village in the Bhoranj subdivision, was reportedly defrauded of Rs 1.5 lakh on the pretext of being arranged a bride from Haryana. He claimed that the bride left him after a few days of the marriage, saying her mother was unwell in Yamunanagar, Haryana, but she never returned.

According to Jitesh’s complaint at the Bhoranj police station, Baldev Sharma, a resident of Kharsal village in the Sarkaghat subdivision of Mandi district, had promised to get him married. He assured him that he would arrange a girl that would marry him in exchange for Rs 1.5 lakh. On December 13, 2024, Baldev Sharma brought a girl named Babita, daughter of Teg Bahadur, to Bhoranj court for the marriage. However, as the girl’s birth certificate was unavailable, the marriage was solemnised through an affidavit by a lawyer. Baldev assured Jitesh and his family that the birth certificate and other necessary documents would be provided soon. On the assurance, Jitesh went ahead with the wedding, which was held in a temple at his village as per the Hindu rituals with family members and relatives present.

Jitesh alleged that after the marriage, the bride took jewellery from his home and insisted on going to Yamunanagar, claiming her mother was unwell. On December 18, Jitesh travelled with her to a hospital in Jagadhari, Haryana. There, a woman told him that his wife’s mother was in the ICU and that they wouldn’t be allowed to meet her. The bride assured Jitesh that she would stay and return after two days, sending him back home. However, she stopped answering his calls and Baldev Sharma, who arranged the marriage, also avoided him.

SP Bhagat Singh Thakur said a case had been filed against the alleged fraudsters. He assured that a team from Bhoranj police station was investigating the matter and that the culprits would be brought to justice soon.