Jaipur, May 20: A 23-year-old woman accused of marrying 25 men across multiple states within seven months and fleeing with their valuables has been arrested in Bhopal by Rajasthan Police, The Times of India reported.
Dubbed the “loot-and-scoot bride” by authorities, Anuradha Paswan was taken into custody on Monday by a police team from Sawai Madhopur. She is allegedly part of a sophisticated marriage racket targeting desperate bachelors, police said.
According to Investigation Officer Meetha Lal of Manpur police station, Anuradha used legal documentation to solemnise marriages, stayed with the groom for a few days, and then fled under cover of night, stealing gold jewellery, cash, and electronic items.
The case came to light following a complaint filed on May 3 by Vishnu Sharma, a resident of Sawai Madhopur. Sharma told police he had paid Rs 2 lakh to two agents, Sunita and Pappu Meena, who arranged his marriage with Anuradha. The wedding took place on April 20 in a local court, but she disappeared by May 2, taking valuables with her.
Anuradha had previously worked in a hospital in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, and moved to Bhopal following a domestic dispute with her husband. In Bhopal, she allegedly joined a gang of marriage fraudsters who operated via local agents. These agents would share pictures of potential brides on WhatsApp, charging clients between Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh for their services.
Police investigations revealed that Anuradha and her associates routinely targeted men seeking brides and vanished soon after the weddings. After fleeing Sharma’s residence, she reportedly married another man named Gabbar in Bhopal and collected Rs 2 lakh from him as well.
Several other suspects have been identified in connection with the racket, including Roshni, Raghubir, Golu, Majboot Singh Yadav, and Arjan, all residents of different areas of Bhopal.
Her arrest was made possible after police deployed a constable posing as a potential groom. When one of the agents shared Anuradha’s photo, investigators acted swiftly and arrested her.
Police are now expanding their probe into the racket and believe there could be many more victims across various states. Anuradha is currently in custody, and authorities have initiated further legal proceedings.
This case has sparked widespread concern over the rise of digital matchmaking scams and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals seeking marriage, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
