Fake matrimonial website racket busted in UP; kingpin held

Saharanpur (UP), Jul 15 (PTI) A cyber fraud racket that allegedly conned people seeking marriage alliances through a fake matrimonial website has been busted in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, police said on Wednesday. Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Vyom Bindal said a joint team of the Sadar Bazar and Cyber Crime police stations raided a premises in Gill Colony on Court Road on July 13 after receiving inputs about an online fraud being operated under the name "Perfect Rishte Proprietor". During the raid, police found several women using computers, laptops and mobile phones to speak with prospective clients on the pretext of arranging marriage alliances. Based on the recovery made during the raid, a case was registered at the Sadar Bazar police station under relevant provisions. Three women were detained on July 14 and, after questioning, were handed over to their family members. The officer said the main accused, identified as Suraj Maravi, a resident of Mungeli district in Chhattisgarh, was detained on Tuesday for questioning. During interrogation, Maravi allegedly told police that the racket was operated through a website created by Sandeep. Around eight to nine women worked from the office, calling customers and persuading them to register on the website by paying online fees. According to police, once a customer showed interest, the gang allegedly collected personal details and registration charges. If clients sought to speak to or see photographs of prospective brides, women working at the office would talk to them over the phone while photographs downloaded from the internet were shared as genuine profiles. After receiving the money, the accused allegedly blocked the customers' phone numbers. Police said they recovered receipts, pamphlets, seals, 16 basic mobile phones, three Android phones, a laptop, nine monitor screens, nine keyboards, seven CPUs, seven computer mice, a biometric device, a Wi-Fi router, a landline telephone, 11 mobile chargers, a printer and two extension boards from the premises. A detailed investigation is underway, police said. PTI COR ABN NB NB