Delhi fake marriage racket busted: 3 arrested for duping Rajasthan groom of ₹6 lakh
Synopsis
A Delhi gang allegedly staged a fake wedding — complete with a bride who had been married for 18 years and had four children — to swindle a Rajasthan groom of ₹6 lakh. Three are arrested; the racket reportedly ran across multiple states, and police suspect this is not the gang's first fraud.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's West District busted a fake marriage racket on Thursday, 3 July 2026 .
Three accused — Lovely alias Lalita , Kamal Lohra , and Deepu alias Rakesh Ekka — have been arrested.
The gang allegedly duped Shravan Vaishnav of Jalore, Rajasthan , of ₹6 lakh by staging a fraudulent marriage on 1 June .
Lovely, presented as an unmarried bride, was allegedly already married to Kamal Lohra for 18 years and had four children .
326/2026 was registered at Police Station Khyala on 29 June under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
Raids are ongoing to nab remaining accused; police are probing possible similar frauds in other states.
Delhi Police's West District on Thursday, 3 July 2026, dismantled a fake marriage racket that allegedly preyed on unmarried men by staging fraudulent weddings and swindling them of large sums. Three accused have been arrested for allegedly cheating a Rajasthan resident of ₹6 lakh under the guise of marriage, while police are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.
How the Racket Came to Light
The case surfaced after a missing person report concerning a woman identified as Lovely alias Lalita was filed at Police Station Khyala on 18 June. A dedicated investigation team was constituted under the leadership of SI Kishor, In-charge of Police Post Raghubir Nagar, directed by SHO Vinod Kumar and supervised by ACP Tilak Nagar Dr. Garima Tiwari. The team comprised SI Dharam Singh, HC Shree Krishna, and W/HC Chameli.
Using technical surveillance and local intelligence, investigators traced the missing woman to Pali district, Rajasthan. The team travelled to Takhatgarh Police Station in Pali, where Lovely was located and brought in for questioning.
What the Accused Allegedly Confessed
During questioning, Lovely allegedly disclosed that she had been married to Kamal Lohra for the past 18 years and that the couple had four children. She further revealed that she, her husband, and associates — Deepu alias Rakesh Ekka, Ankit Verma, Deepika, and Gopal — had been operating the racket by presenting her as an unmarried woman to prospective grooms.
According to police, the gang arranged Lovely's fraudulent marriage with Shravan Vaishnav, a resident of Jalore, Rajasthan, on 1 June. The accused allegedly collected ₹6 lakh from the victim and distributed the proceeds among themselves. Investigators said the group had planned to abscond with cash and other valuables from the matrimonial home after the ceremony.
FIR Registered, Three Arrested
FIR No. 326/2026 was registered at Police Station Khyala on 29 June under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police subsequently arrested three accused: Lovely alias Lalita and Kamal Lohra, both residents of Gumla, Jharkhand, and Deepu alias Rakesh Ekka, a resident of Raghubir Nagar, Delhi.
During interrogation, the arrested individuals allegedly confessed to repeatedly targeting unmarried men — presenting already-married women as eligible brides, collecting money in the name of marriage, and then planning to disappear with cash and valuables.
Investigation Ongoing, Wider Fraud Suspected
The remaining accused — Ankit Verma, Deepika, and Gopal — have been identified and are being actively pursued. Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether the gang was involved in similar frauds in other states. This case follows a broader pattern of matrimonial fraud increasingly reported across northern India, where organised groups exploit the social pressure on families to arrange marriages quickly.
Point of View
But the operational sophistication here — a multi-member gang, cross-state logistics, and a 'bride' with an 18-year marriage concealed — points to a repeat offender network rather than an opportunistic crime. The fact that the case surfaced through a missing person report, not a fraud complaint, suggests victims may be reluctant to come forward due to social stigma. Police must establish whether similar frauds have been committed in other states, and courts should treat the premeditated nature of the deception as an aggravating factor. Matrimonial fraud laws under the BNS need clearer enforcement guidelines to deter organised rackets that exploit the institution of marriage as a vehicle for financial crime.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Delhi fake marriage racket that was busted?
Delhi Police dismantled a gang that allegedly staged fraudulent marriages to swindle money from unmarried men. In the latest case, a woman already married for 18 years was presented as an eligible bride to cheat a Rajasthan groom of ₹6 lakh.
Who has been arrested in the Delhi fake marriage fraud case?
Three people have been arrested: Lovely alias Lalita and her husband Kamal Lohra, both from Gumla, Jharkhand, and Deepu alias Rakesh Ekka, a resident of Raghubir Nagar, Delhi. Three other accused — Ankit Verma, Deepika, and Gopal — are still at large.
How did Delhi Police uncover the racket?
The investigation began after a missing person report for Lovely alias Lalita was filed at Police Station Khyala on 18 June. Technical surveillance and local intelligence led the team to Pali district in Rajasthan, where she was traced and questioned.
What charges have been filed in the case?
FIR No. 326/2026 was registered at Police Station Khyala on 29 June under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused face charges related to cheating and criminal conspiracy.
Is this gang suspected of committing similar frauds elsewhere?
Yes, police said investigation is underway to determine whether the gang was involved in similar matrimonial frauds in other states, as the accused allegedly confessed to repeatedly targeting unmarried men using the same method.
