Web of deceit untangles as ‘Looteri Dulhan’ falls in police net | Lucknow News
Varanasi: Straight out of Sonam Kapoor’s ‘Dolly Ki Doli’, Rani Kumari’s whirlwind flings have left a trail of broken hearts and empty pockets. With more than a dozen marriages under her belt, each lasting merely hours, her seemingly idyllic marriages have morphed into sinister narratives of betrayal and thievery, as she vanished into thin air with her loot.Rani’s string of short-lived marriages recently came to an end as the ‘looteri dulhan’ was finally arrested by the Sonbhadra police along with her husband and mother. Police also recovered cash and jewellery from their possession.Sonbhadra SP Abhishek Verma said, “On Nov 6-7, police cracked down on the gang, arresting Rani, her husband Ravi Ranjan Maurya, and her mother Maya. Authorities recovered stolen items, including Rs 9,500 cash, gold and silver jewellery, and wedding attire.” Another gang member, Krishnanand Maurya, was nabbed.”The gang members revealed the names of other accomplices, including Krishnanand Maurya, prompting police to launch a manhunt. Acting on a tip-off, authorities apprehended Krishnanand near the Jharkhand border along with Rs 90,000 cash and an SUV. Myorpur SO Kamal Nayan Dubey stated that Krishnanand was a key player in the gang, involved in extorting money and valuables from unsuspecting families through fake marriages.Dubbed the ‘looteri dulhan’, Sonbhadra resident Rani’s modus operandi involved marrying men, only to vanish with their valuables hours later, Verma said, adding that the main ringleaders of the gang are Maurya and Maya. Narrating a shocking tale of deceit and duplicity, Ramesh Kumar of Jalore district in Rajasthan had recently lodged an FIR alleging that Maurya contacted his family for Rani’s marriage through his associates. They extorted a huge amount after which they arranged a fake marriage with Rani, who looted all his belongings besides Rs 10,000 cash, gold magalsutra and silver anklets before driving him away through threats.During interrogation, the accused revealed that the gang operates with a Rajasthan-based syndicate led by Raju Mali, targeting unsuspecting men with fake marriage proposals. They’d extort large sums from the groom’s family, and Ramesh was their latest victim. He was lured in, married off to Rani in a sham ceremony, and then taken to a secluded spot where they attempted to flee with his belongings. The gang has confessed to similar crimes in the past.Fake ‘IPS groom’ held for duping womanMeanwhile, in Ballia, Dokati police arrested Sudhir Kumar Ram, who impersonated an IPS officer, using fake documents to marry a woman. Police recovered khaki uniforms, identity cards, and other incriminating items from him. Sudhir allegedly turned abusive and threatening when his true identity was exposed. ASP Kripa Shankar said police took the complaint seriously and arrested him after an investigation.
