Rajkot: In a major crackdown on a bride-robber (Luteri Dulhan) racket, the Mehsana Police have arrested a gang that lured young men into marriage and fled with cash and valuables shortly after the wedding. The gang is accused of cheating victims across Gujarat, including a youth from Rajkot who lost ₹2.5 lakh.

During interrogation, it was revealed that the key accused, 24-year-old Chandni Rameshbhai Rathod, had married 15 men across the state and defrauded them of over ₹52 lakh. Another woman from the gang, Rashmika Sachinbhai Panchal, is also suspected of marrying four men and cheating them.

Rajkot victim narrates ordeal

According to the complaint filed at University Police Station, Vipul Gopalbhai Lathiya, a resident of Bansidhar Park in Raiyadhara, came across a marriage advertisement on Facebook and contacted Hasmukhbhai Mehta, who runs Jayamadi Marriage Bureau in Ahmedabad. Vipul travelled to Ahmedabad with his family, where he married Chandni in a simple ceremony and paid ₹2.30 lakh to her family.

After the wedding, Chandni stayed with Vipul for 10 days and later left with her jewellery, promising to return soon but never came back. When Vipul contacted her, her alleged maternal uncle Rajubhai called him to Ahmedabad to pick her up. However, Chandni later threatened him and told him to forget the money. Shocked by the incident, Vipul returned to Rajkot and filed a police complaint.

Gang exposed after Mehsana arrest

Following the Rajkot FIR, the Mehsana Police arrested the gang members Chandni Rameshbhai Rathod, her mother Sushila alias Savita Rathod, Raju Thakkar, and Rashmika Sachinbhai Panchal. Interrogation uncovered multiple cases of organised marriage fraud committed by the group across Gujarat.

Five-day police remand for further probe

Police have secured five-day remand of all four accused to identify additional victims, locate absconding suspects, and recover defrauded money. Officials believe the gang may have been operating for several years, and more arrests are likely. Further investigation is underway.

Youths trapped by the Luteri Dulhan

• ₹2.75 lakh from a youth of Dudkha village, Sami taluka, Patan

• ₹5 lakh from a youth of Lundra village, Deodar, Vav–Tharad

• ₹2.28 lakh from a youth of Arora village, Sabarkantha

• ₹1.70 lakh from a youth of Bavla village, Ahmedabad

• ₹2.30 lakh from a youth of Bansidhar Park, Rajkot

• ₹3 lakh from a youth of Vastral area, Ahmedabad

• ₹3.25 lakh from a youth of Rampur village, Idar taluka, Sabarkantha

• ₹2.30 lakh from a youth of Veraval, Gir Somnath district

• ₹3.25 lakh from a youth of Ternal village, Kapadvanj taluka, Kheda district

• ₹5 lakh from a youth of Adivada village, Bahucharaji, Mehsana

• ₹1.70 lakh from a youth of Naroda, Ahmedabad

• ₹2.50 lakh from a youth of Patan

• ₹3 lakh from a youth of Morbi

• ₹4.50 lakh from a youth of Gandhinagar

• ₹3 lakh from a youth of Dehgam, Gandhinagar