Matrimony fraud: man poses as wealthy businessman, cheats woman of ₹1.75 crore

Bengaluru: A shocking case of matrimony-related fraud has come to light in Bengaluru, where a man allegedly cheated a young software engineer and her friends of nearly ₹1.75 crore by falsely projecting himself as a wealthy businessman and promising marriage.

The accused, who was already married, reportedly introduced his own wife as his “sister” to gain the victim’s trust. A police complaint has been registered and investigation is under way.

According to the complaint, the victim, a software engineer based in Whitefield, came into contact with the accused through a matrimony website in March 2024. The man claimed that he was a successful entrepreneur with assets worth over ₹700 crore and introduced his father as a “retired tahsildar.”

He allegedly convinced the woman that he was serious about marrying her and even took her to a house in the Kengeri area, where his family members participated in what appeared to be formal marriage discussions.

After gaining her confidence, the accused allegedly began his financial manipulation. He told the woman that his assets were under scrutiny and that an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case had been registered against him, resulting in his bank accounts being frozen.

To make the story believable, he showed her forged court documents and papers. Initially, he borrowed a small amount of money, but gradually persuaded her to take bank loans in her own name, promising high returns through a joint business venture.

The complaint states that the accused also approached the woman’s friends and relatives, luring them with similar promises of profitable investments. Over a period of time, he allegedly siphoned off around ₹1.75 crore.

Although he later returned ₹22 lakh, he avoided repaying the remaining amount and allegedly began threatening the woman and her associates when they demanded their money back.

Suspicious of his conduct, the victim began verifying his background, only to discover that the man was already married and had a child. In a disturbing revelation, she learned that the woman he had introduced as his “sister” during family meetings was, in fact, his wife. The victim said she was left traumatised by the elaborate deception involving the entire family.

Following these revelations, the woman filed a complaint at the Whitefield police station against the accused, identified as Vijay Raj Gowda, along with his father Boregowda and wife Soumya.

As the alleged incidents largely took place in the Kengeri area, the case has since been transferred to the Kengeri police station. Police officials confirmed that a detailed investigation is ongoing to verify financial transactions, forged documents and the role of each accused in the alleged fraud.

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