But it was all part of the performance.
An Indian woman has been arrested for conning 25 grooms in the span of seven months.
Anuradha Paswan, known as the ‘looteri Dulhan’, allegedly tricked families across multiple cities by assuming new names, new cities, and new identities each time.
Her plan followed a clear pattern: pose as a poor woman from a struggling family, win the trust of a groom’s household, then vanish with cash, jewellery, and valuables.
Paswan was the mastermind behind a gang that exploited traditional matchmaking for personal gain.
According to police, gang members helped Paswan set up each con. They would take her pictures and profile to prospective grooms, claiming she was an ideal match.
The so-called matchmaker, also part of the gang, charged Rs 2 lakh (£1,700) to finalise the arrangement.
Once the family agreed, a consent letter was drawn up and the wedding took place either at home or in a temple.
Paswan played the perfect bride. She behaved with affection and obedience, winning over the groom and his family in a matter of days.
But it was all part of the performance.
As soon as she gained their confidence, she would prepare for her exit. The final act often involved drugging the family and escaping with gold, cash, and other valuables.
One of her most recent victims is Vishnu Sharma, a handcart vendor from Sawai Madhopur.
He married Paswan through a broker named Pappu Meena and paid him Rs 2 lakh for the arrangement. Within two weeks, she disappeared with Rs 1.25 lakh (£1,300) worth of jewellery, Rs 30,000 (£260) in cash and a mobile phone worth Rs 30,000.
He explained: “I run a handcart and got married by taking a loan. I had also borrowed a mobile, she took that too. I never sensed that she would cheat me.”
Recalling the night she fled, Mr Sharma said:
“I usually don’t sleep much, but that night I slept like a baby, as if someone gave me a sleeping pill.”
The Sharma family filed a police complaint soon after. Police in Sawai Madhopur launched an investigation and decided to turn the tables.
Sawai Madhopur Police caught the conwoman by tricking her into a fake marriage.
Officials confirmed that she is part of a gang that specialises in such frauds, and further investigations are underway to locate her accomplices and identify more victims.
Paswan is currently in custody and is expected to face multiple charges related to cheating, theft, and criminal conspiracy.
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