Groom not the man she met on Instagram, bride calls off wedding in UP

LUCKNOW: What began as a friendship on Instagram ended in chaos at a wedding venue in Shahabad after the bride alleged the man who arrived as groom was not the person she had been speaking to online. Police registered FIR against 10 people on charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy in connection with the incident. Five persons, including the groom, have been arrested.

According to police, the woman, a resident of Shahabad, had befriended a man identifying himself as Rahul Mishra through Instagram. The accused claimed he was serving in the Army. Over time, the two grew close and decided to get married.

The woman told police that Rahul had even visited Shahabad earlier and met her in person. After discussions with her elder sister, the marriage was fixed for May 12.

On Tuesday, a wedding procession arrived in Shahabad from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district. Guests were welcomed and preparations for the marriage ceremony were underway. However, the situation took a dramatic turn during garlanding ceremony when the bride realised the man standing as groom was not the same person she had met and spoken to online.

The bride objected and refused to marry, claiming that the person who had introduced himself as Rahul Mishra earlier was someone else and not the man who arrived as groom.

The allegation triggered chaos at the wedding venue, following which the groom and some members of the wedding party were assaulted by those present.

On receiving information, police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Officers detained several members of the wedding party.

Those arrested include Devendra Singh Parmar, a resident of Gatwara under Civil Lines police station area of Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, along with Mangaldeen, Ramautar Vajpayee, Mukesh Sen, Mulayam Yadav and Sharif.

According to police, Devendra Singh Parmar — who had arrived as the groom — claimed that the woman had been speaking to him all along and denied knowing anyone named Rahul Mishra.

Station House Officer Arvind Rai said the case has raised several questions and the investigation is underway.

“If the person who earlier met the woman was someone else, then how did Devendra know when and where to arrive with the wedding procession? Another important question is who posed as Rahul and met the woman earlier,” the officer said.

Police said call detail records, cyber analysis and digital evidence are being examined to determine whether fake identities were used and whether multiple persons were involved in the alleged conspiracy.

An FIR has been registered against Rahul Mishra and 10 others under sections related to cheating and criminal conspiracy. Further investigation is underway.