Forty-two families in Madhya Pradesh were reportedly defrauded of over Rs 10 lakh in a mass wedding scam where promised brides never arrived for the ceremony in Dewas.
A troubling fraud case has emerged from Madhya Pradesh, where approximately 42 families were allegedly deceived during a planned mass wedding ceremony in Dewas. Families arrived with hopes of celebrating their sons’ marriages, only to find that the brides never showed up, leaving them in a state of confusion and disappointment.
Reports indicate that the accused targeted families whose sons were having difficulty finding suitable brides. They promised to arrange marriages with girls from an orphanage in Indore and collected money from these families for wedding preparations. Initially, the event appeared legitimate, but it soon unraveled into a well-orchestrated scam.
According to police and victim accounts, the scammers requested payments for various wedding arrangements. Some families reported paying between Rs 12,000 and Rs 20,000, while others claimed they were charged as much as Rs 25,000 each. The total amount defrauded is estimated to exceed Rs 10 lakh.
The families were informed that the mass weddings would take place in Dewas on May 25, with brides being brought from the Indore orphanage. They were also promised arrangements for a visit to Mata Tekri and accommodations at the Club Ground in Radhaganj.
On May 24, grooms and their relatives arrived at the Radhaganj Club Ground in Dewas from various districts, some arriving early in the morning, fully prepared for the ceremony. However, upon reaching the venue, they found no wedding decorations, no setup, and no sign of the brides.
The families encountered the organizers, Mukesh Bairagi and his wife, Sunita, who repeatedly assured them that the brides were en route from Indore. As hours passed, the excuses continued, and the families waited from early morning until late at night. By around 10 PM, they realized they had been scammed.
During the investigation, police discovered that the accused had allegedly downloaded photographs of models and young women from social media. These images were shown to the families via mobile phones to convince them that brides had already been selected.
The victims were led to believe that the girls were from an orphanage and that proper wedding arrangements had been made. When questioned by police, Mukesh Bairagi claimed that his elder brother, Dinesh Das Bairagi from Indore, had informed him about arranging marriages for the girls. Mukesh also stated that Dinesh had provided the contact details of the groom’s family.
According to Mukesh, after the families arrived in Dewas, Dinesh assured him over the phone that he would soon arrive with the brides. However, Dinesh’s phone was later switched off, raising suspicions about the scheme. Police also suspect the involvement of Mukesh’s father-in-law, Narsingh Das Bairagi, who allegedly acted as a middleman between the scammers and the victims.
The Madhya Pradesh Police have registered a case against Mukesh Bairagi, Sunita Bairagi, Dinesh Bairagi, and Narsingh Das Bairagi on charges of cheating. While Mukesh and Sunita have been arrested, police teams are actively searching for the other accused.
Additional Superintendent of Police Jaiveer Bhadoria stated that police received information about the incident on the evening of May 24 and promptly initiated action. Another senior police officer, Preeti Katare, noted that the individuals who collected money were missing from the venue when the families arrived.
For the 42 families who came to Dewas with dreams of celebration, the day ended in disappointment and humiliation, leading to police complaints instead of joyous wedding ceremonies. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities of families seeking matrimonial arrangements and the need for vigilance against such fraudulent schemes.
According to The Sunday Guardian, the investigation is ongoing as authorities work to bring all responsible parties to justice.