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4 min readBhopalUpdated: May 26, 2026 02:29 PM IST
Police officials said preliminary investigation suggests the case involves organised cheating under the pretext of marriage. (Generating using Google Gemini)
Forty-two grooms from Madhya Pradesh turned up on their wedding day, some dressed in bright sherwanis, marigold garlands and steel dabbas carrying sweets. But the brides never arrived, and the men would later realise they had been duped by a fake wedding scam.
What unfolded in Dewas on Sunday was not just a case of financial fraud, according to police, but a public humiliation for dozens of men who had travelled from villages and small towns across Dewas and neighbouring districts, believing they were about to get married. By evening, the celebration ground had turned into a scene of anger and disbelief as families realised they may have been trapped in an elaborate scam that allegedly collected lakhs of rupees by promising brides from an Indore-based orphanage.
Police officials said preliminary investigation suggests the case involves organised cheating under the pretext of marriage.
“We have received complaints from several youths. The matter is being investigated seriously,” Bank Note Press police station in-charge Preeti Katare said. “The accused are being identified and traced. We are also verifying the claims related to the orphanage whose name was allegedly used.”
Each groom had paid between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 to middlemen who promised to organise a “collective marriage ceremony” in Dewas. Some said they had first been shown photographs of prospective brides on mobile phones weeks earlier. Others claimed they were assured the women were from poor or orphaned backgrounds and were willing to marry immediately.
Rahul, who travelled from Harniyakalan village, said, “Each of us was asked to pay Rs 25,000 as a registration fee. We were told the brides were from Indore’s Matru Chhaya Ashram. When we asked for photographs, the organisers sent us pictures of models downloaded from social media. They told us to reach Dewas a day before the ceremony and assured us that the collective wedding would take place the next morning. They even promised dowry items. But when we reached the venue, nobody was there, and all the phones were eventually switched off,” Meena said.
Ashok, one of the grooms, said they were “instructed to come in plain clothes because the groom’s attire and all wedding rituals would be arranged there itself”. “They specifically told us not to apply haldi or mehendi before arriving because all the rituals would happen at the venue,” he said.
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Om Prakash, who went with his family from Bhopal, said they “selected brides from the photographs that had been sent to us on mobile phones”.
“We had submitted documents online for my brother’s marriage. After we arrived, the organisers kept telling us that madam was on the way with the brides, but nobody came until midnight,” said Rajkumari, the sister of one of the men. “Several grooms had hired cars to travel here, and many families had invited relatives and guests for the wedding. Everyone was left humiliated.”
A senior police officer said the incident came to light on May 24, and a cheating case was filed. “The prime accused, Mukesh, and his wife have been arrested. We are gathering details about their modus operandi. Since the accused are from Vidisha district, a team has also been sent there to collect further information,” said the officer.
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
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