‘Con bride’, middleman vanish after extracting ₹2 lakh from groom in Naroda, FIR filed

In a bizarre case of matrimonial fraud, a 41-year-old man from Naroda has accused a woman and her middleman of duping him under the pretext of marriage. The woman, described as a ‘con bride’, allegedly took money before and after the wedding, only to flee along with the intermediary soon after the ceremony.

The complainant, Pratik Barot, who works at a private firm and resides in Naroda, was previously married in 2013 but divorced in 2017 over issues of incompatibility. According to his statement to the police, his uncle Binilbhai Brahmbhatt introduced him to a man named Bharat Chhaganbhai Vasoya, who claimed to know a suitable girl for marriage, his sister-in-law, Swati Ganesh Hiravale.

On January 11, 2025, Swati visited Pratik’s home for a formal introduction, after which both agreed to marry. Bharat then allegedly demanded Rs 1.60 lakh, citing Swati’s poor financial background and stating that the marriage could only proceed with this financial support. Pratik agreed and was first asked to pay Rs 50,000 for wedding shopping. Over the following days, Bharat demanded additional amounts: Rs 15,000 to travel to Maharashtra to fetch a relative, Rs 9,000 for miscellaneous expenses, and finally, Rs 1 lakh for marriage arrangements.

The wedding took place at a marriage bureau in Vithal Plaza, Naroda, on January 16, 2025. On January 17, the couple also registered their marriage at the local ward office. Days later, Bharat contacted Pratik again, claiming Rs 50,000 more was needed for a celebratory meal at Swati’s parental home. Pratik, trusting the request, paid once more.

However, after receiving the final sum, both Swati and Bharat vanished, claiming they were headed to an angadia (local courier) office. When Pratik tried to reach them, they were untraceable. Realising he had been defrauded, Pratik lodged a formal complaint with the Naroda police.

An FIR has been registered under charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy. Police have begun investigations to locate the accused and ascertain whether the case is part of a broader marriage fraud racket.