‘Looteri Dulhan’ who fakes 25 marriages to loot grooms, caught by Rajasthan Police

Anuradha Paswan, infamously known as the ‘looteri Dulhan’, has been arrested for conning 25 men into fake marriages and fleeing with cash, jewellery, and valuables. Operating across states under false identities, she posed as a poor but desirable bride and vanished soon after the wedding, leaving devastated families behind.

The 32-year-old woman from Madhya Pradesh would present herself as a helpless woman with financial troubles and a dependent brother. Her accomplices, posing as matchmakers, would pitch her as an ideal bride to unsuspecting men, usually from humble backgrounds. After accepting a ‘matchmaker fee’ of ₹2 lakh, a wedding would be arranged in a temple or private ceremony.

In the days following the marriage, Paswan would win over the groom's family with affection and ideal daughter-in-law behaviour. Once trust was established, she would drug the family’s food and flee with jewellery, cash, and mobile phones. Her most recent victim, Vishnu Sharma from Sawai Madhopur, revealed he took a loan to fund the wedding and was left shattered after losing his savings and phone.

Rajasthan Police finally turned the tables by setting up a sting operation. Using a constable as a fake groom, the team contacted Paswan through the same network of agents. After verifying the fraudulent documentation and patterns, they executed a mock wedding to draw her out. She was arrested in Bhopal after taking the bait.

Police are now investigating the broader racket involving fake brokers, forged marriage documents, and other gang members suspected of helping Paswan in her long-running con. Many other potential victims are also being traced.