Kolkata matrimony fraud: Man held for duping woman, allegedly married 15
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police have arrested a young man for allegedly defrauding a woman he befriended on a matrimonial site after promising marriage, an officer said on Wednesday. Preliminary investigation reportedly suggests the accused had duped several women of cash and jewellery, and allegedly married 15 women through similar deceit.
Key Developments
The accused has been identified as Matiur Rahman, a resident of Bowbazar in central Kolkata, according to police. He had registered himself on matrimonial platforms under the alias Manik Roy, and connected with a young woman from Naihati in North 24 Parganas district under that name.
How the Alleged Fraud Unfolded
According to the complaint, ‘Manik' claimed to hold a job paying ₹1.5 crore annually. As the relationship progressed, the woman told her family about marriage plans. She later said the accused repeatedly pressured her for money and gold, leaving her under increasing mental strain.
The complainant alleged she handed over ₹85,000 in cash, a gold bracelet and several other items. She said her suspicions initially did not surface as conversations seemed routine.
The Turning Point
The woman grew suspicious when the accused said her maternal uncle had died and that he urgently needed money, asking her to transfer funds to a bank account purportedly in Mumbai, where he claimed the uncle lived. She later discovered that his actual home was in East Burdwan district, deepening her doubts.
A search of his social media profiles reportedly revealed multiple women linked to him. On contacting them, she learnt that the accused had allegedly used the same playbook with each — extracting money and, in several cases, going through with marriage. According to police, he had allegedly married 15 women through this pattern.
Police Action
Following her formal complaint, Kolkata Police arrested the accused on Tuesday night. Investigators are now reportedly tracing the trail of money transfers, the matrimonial profiles created under different identities, and the women who may have been targeted but not yet come forward.
What Happens Next
Officers are expected to expand the probe to verify the alleged 15 marriages and identify additional victims across districts. The case has renewed scrutiny over identity verification on matrimonial platforms, an area where regulatory gaps have been flagged in previous incidents.