The Notorious ‘Looteri Dulhan’: The Shocking Saga of a Bride Who Married 25 Times

Prologue: Shadows Over Sacred Vows

In India, marriage is not just a union of two souls but a sacred bond, celebrated with rituals, music, and the blessings of families. It is a ceremony built on trust, hope, and the promise of a new beginning. But what happens when this sacred institution becomes the stage for one of the most audacious cons in recent history? This is the chilling story of Anuradha Paswan, infamously known as the ‘Looteri Dulhan’—the bride who shattered the dreams of 25 men, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak, betrayal, and stolen fortunes.

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Act I: The Black Chronicle of the Looteri Dulhan

It was a seemingly ordinary day in the bustling town of Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, when the local police received a tip-off about a woman who had been orchestrating fake marriages and vanishing with gold, jewelry, and cash. The woman, known by several aliases, had become a ghost—appearing in one city, marrying a hopeful groom, and then disappearing into thin air, leaving her new family devastated and penniless.

Her real name, as the police would soon discover, was Anuradha Paswan, a 32-year-old woman whose permanent address was listed in Rudrapur, Shivnath police station, Maharajganj district, Uttar Pradesh. However, her current residence was in Shivnagar, Chhola police station, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Her occupation? Marriage fraud.

Act II: A Trail of Broken Hearts and Empty Vaults

Anuradha’s modus operandi was both cunning and simple. With the help of a well-organized gang, she would target lonely, often desperate men looking for marriage. Her team included agents like Sunita, Raghuveer, Golu, Roshni, Majboot Singh Yadav, and Arjun—each playing a role in finding, convincing, and trapping the next victim.

They would send photographs of prospective brides to the families of eligible bachelors, often through mobile phones. Once a match was found, the marriage would be fixed for a sum ranging from two to five lakh rupees. Everything seemed legitimate—there were introductions, meetings, and even the performance of all traditional rituals.

But the happiness was short-lived. Within days of the wedding, Anuradha would drug her new in-laws, loot all their valuables—gold, silver, cash, and even mobile phones—and disappear, leaving no trace behind.

Act III: The Perfect Trap

The story that finally led to her downfall began on April 20th, when Vishnu Sharma, a resident of Sawai Madhopur, married Anuradha at the Sheetla Mata temple in the IHS Colony. The wedding was conducted with all the necessary rites and even had a legal agreement signed before a lawyer.

For a brief period, everything seemed normal. Vishnu’s family welcomed Anuradha into their home, and she played the role of a loving wife and daughter-in-law. But on the night of May 2nd, she struck. After drugging the entire household, she made off with gold jewelry worth lakhs, cash, and a mobile phone.

When Vishnu’s family awoke, groggy and confused, they realized they had been robbed. The police were called, and an investigation was launched. But Anuradha had vanished, just as she had so many times before.

Act IV: The Web of Deceit

As the investigation deepened, the police uncovered a disturbing pattern. Anuradha and her gang had been operating across multiple states—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Each time, the script was eerily similar: a fake marriage, a brief period of domestic bliss, and then a calculated heist.

The gang was meticulous in their planning. Agents like Pappu Lal, a notorious broker, would scout for vulnerable families. He would arrange meetings in parks or temples, introduce the bride as a relative from another town, and insist on a quick wedding. Often, the grooms’ families were so eager to see their sons married that they ignored the red flags—no background checks, no inquiries about the bride’s past, and, most fatally, a willingness to pay hefty sums to brokers.

After the wedding, Anuradha would stay for a few days, sometimes up to two weeks, carefully gaining the trust of her new family. Then, when the moment was right, she would strike, leaving behind nothing but questions and shattered trust.

Act V: The Police Sting

The turning point came when the Sawai Madhopur police, determined to end this cycle of deceit, decided to set a trap. Disguising themselves as potential clients, they contacted the gang through one of their brokers. The plan was set in motion: a fake wedding proposal, a meeting arranged, and the bait laid out.

When Anuradha appeared for the meeting, she was promptly arrested. The news sent shockwaves through the region. Here was a woman who had outsmarted dozens of families, orchestrated 25 marriages, and built a criminal empire on the exploitation of trust and loneliness.

Act VI: The Faces Behind the Scam

As police interrogated Anuradha, a complex web of accomplices began to unravel. Each member of the gang had a specific role: some found the victims, others posed as relatives, and some handled the logistics of the fake weddings. The brokers were the linchpins, collecting money from the grooms’ families and ensuring the operation ran smoothly.

The gang’s operations were so professional that in many cases, even the legal paperwork was forged or manipulated. Court marriages were arranged, consent forms were signed, and everything appeared above board. It was only after the bride’s sudden disappearance that families realized they had been duped.

Act VII: The Victims Speak

The emotional toll on the victims was immense. Many of the men had invested not just their savings, but their hopes and dreams in these marriages. Some, like Vishnu Sharma, had taken loans or borrowed money from relatives to pay the brokers and arrange the wedding.

“She seemed so genuine,” Vishnu recalls, his voice heavy with regret. “For a few days, it felt like I had finally found happiness. Then, overnight, everything was gone—my money, my jewelry, and my trust.”

Other victims shared similar stories. Some had been married for just a week, others for nearly a month. In each case, the pattern was the same: the bride would ingratiate herself with the family, gain their confidence, and then vanish with their valuables.

Act VIII: Societal Reflections

The Looteri Dulhan case is more than just a criminal investigation; it is a mirror reflecting the vulnerabilities in our society. The desperation for marriage, the stigma around unmarried men and women, and the blind faith in strangers—all these factors contributed to the success of Anuradha’s scam.

Sociologists point out that the institution of marriage, while revered, can also become a trap for those who are lonely or under pressure to settle down. In many cases, families were so eager to see their sons married that they ignored basic precautions—such as verifying the bride’s background or questioning the need for large sums of money to brokers.

The case also highlights the need for greater awareness and vigilance. As one police officer noted, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Families must be cautious and do their due diligence before entering into any marriage arrangement.”

Act IX: The Aftermath

With Anuradha’s arrest, the police have intensified their efforts to track down the remaining members of her gang. Interrogations are ongoing, and several accomplices have already been identified. The authorities are also working to recover stolen property and return it to the victims.

Meanwhile, Anuradha faces multiple charges of fraud, theft, and criminal conspiracy. If convicted, she could spend years behind bars. But for her victims, the scars will take much longer to heal.

Act X: Lessons Learned

The Looteri Dulhan scandal has forced many to rethink the way marriages are arranged and the risks involved in trusting strangers. It has also sparked conversations about the need for stronger laws to protect individuals from such scams.

In the wake of the scandal, several families have come forward to share their stories, hoping to prevent others from falling into the same trap. Community organizations are conducting awareness campaigns, and local police have issued advisories urging people to verify all details before proceeding with marriage proposals.

Epilogue: A Cautionary Tale

The story of Anuradha Paswan, the infamous Looteri Dulhan, is a stark reminder of how easily trust can be exploited. It is a tale of cunning, betrayal, and the dark side of human nature. But it is also a story of resilience—of families who, despite their losses, are determined to rebuild their lives and warn others of the dangers lurking behind seemingly innocent proposals.

As the investigation continues and more details emerge, one thing is clear: the sanctity of marriage must be protected, not just by rituals and traditions, but by vigilance, awareness, and the courage to question what lies beneath the surface.

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In the end, the Looteri Dulhan’s reign may be over, but her story will serve as a cautionary tale for generations to come—a reminder that even the most sacred bonds can be twisted by those with hearts of stone and minds of steel.