Gorakhpur: Police have dismantled an inter-state racket that exploited unsuspecting grooms, orchestrating fake marriages and extorting hefty sums under the guise of law enforcement. Seven culprits, masquerading as police personnel, have been apprehended, with the elusive ‘bride’ and her accomplice still evading capture.Their latest victim was a Rajasthan groom, who fell prey to the gang’s deceit, lured into a sham marriage, and was subsequently fleeced of Rs 3.11 lakh by the impostors posing as police officials. Seven culprits, masquerading as police personnel, have been apprehended by a team from the Chiluatal Police Station, with the elusive ‘bride’ and her accomplice still evading capture.Police seized Rs 1.65 lakh, forged police ID cards and fake Aadhaar cards. The case was registered on March 13.SP North Gyanendra Kumar said the gang targeted outstation victims through brokers. “People were called to Gorakhpur on the pretext of marriage, a fake wedding was conducted, and then they were threatened and extorted by gang members posing as police officials,” he said.
