Mass marriage fraud exposed in UP: No groom, brides seen garlanding themselves; 15 arrested

Balia/Uttar Pradesh: In a major crackdown against mass wedding fraud, as many as 15 persons, including two government officials, were arrested in UP for allegedly orchestrating a fake massive marriage programme to procure money from the government. The scam unfolded when several videos went fervidly viral across social media platforms, where brides were seen garlanding themselves. Several men were also seen in groom’s attire while hiding their faces.

BJP MLA Ketki Singh was the chief guest at the event where scam wedding were arranged. The community wedding was held on January 25 in the Balia district of Uttar Pradesh.

Marriage without a groom in the Ballia district of UP –

January 25, 568 couples married under the CM Group Marriage Scheme. A large number of brides were garlanded without the groom.
Many had been married many years ago.
Some were even siblings.

All this happened to posing as… pic.twitter.com/lHvzuvEQLS

— ShoneeKapoor (@ShoneeKapoor) February 1, 2024

Sharing further details, the officials say about 568 couples got married at the event, however, later it was found that several were paid to pose as brides and grooms. A local alleged that both men and women were paid between ₹ 500 and ₹ 2,000 for posing as brides and grooms. “Some Women had no one. They were wearing the varmala (garland) themselves. We came to know that people are being paid between ₹ 500 to ₹ 2,000,” Vimal Kumar Pathak said.

A 19-year-old man told sources that he was offered money to pose as a groom. “I went there to see the wedding. They made me sit there. They said that they will give me money. Many were being made to sit,” said Raj Kumar.

On being interrogated about the involvement of the government officials in the alleged fraud, MS Singh said, “They informed me just two days before the event. I had suspected there was something fishy. But now a complete investigation is being done” she said.

It is noteworthy that the government provides Rs 51,000 under the scheme. Of this, Rs 35,000 is given to girls, Rs 10,000 to purchase wedding material, and Rs 6,000 for organising the event. Officials informed the scam came into limelight before any money could be transferred. After this, a committee was formed to probe the event and verify beneficiaries. No beneficiary will be given any money till the time the matter is probed.