A 29-year-old software engineer in Bengaluru has alleged that she was cheated of more than ₹1.5 crore by a man she met through a matrimonial website, who promised to marry her while posing as a wealthy entrepreneur and subsequently lured her into investing in his purported business ventures.

The complainant says she was led to believe the accused had assets worth ₹715 crore and showed her fake court documents to gain her trust only to later discover he was already married with a child and had introduced his wife as his “sister.”

Police have registered a case against Vijay Raj Gowda (alias Vijeth B), his father Boregowda U J, and the woman identified as Soumya, suspected to be Vijay’s wife, on charges including cheating, criminal conspiracy and intimidation. All three accused are currently absconding as the investigation continues.

Matrimonial Meeting Turns into Financial Entanglement

According to the FIR registered by the Kengeri Police on January 6, the Bengaluru resident, identified in reports as Navya Shree, first connected with Vijay Raj Gowda through the Okkaliga matrimonial platform in March 2024.

In their early communications, Gowda allegedly painted himself as a successful businessman running a company named VRG Enterprises, claiming ownership of multiple assets, including land, residential properties in affluent areas like Rajajinagar and Sadashivanagar, lorries and crushers. To reinforce his façade, he reportedly described a past Enforcement Directorate (ED) case against him and said the matter had been “settled,” thereby implying legal and financial credibility.

The woman said that as they grew closer, Gowda not only promised marriage but also introduced her to his supposed family members at a meeting near Kengeri Metro Station, where she met his father and a woman he presented as his sister, Soumya. Over time, Gowda convinced her that he faced a temporary cash flow problem and requested financial assistance, starting with a small amount of ₹15,000 in April 2024 via PhonePe.

Gradual Spiral of Loans, Investments and Growing Doubts

Once the initial amount was transferred, the woman alleges that Gowda’s demands quickly escalated. He allegedly advised her to take personal loans, borrow money from friends and even urged her friends to invest in what he described as joint business ventures. According to the FIR details cited by news outlets, her friends were persuaded to invest ₹66 lakh and ₹23 lakh on different occasions, which were also handed over to Gowda.

When she later sought repayment, Gowda is said to have produced fabricated court orders claiming his bank accounts were frozen due to legal proceedings, thus deflecting calls for reimbursement. The complaint states that she eventually arranged approximately ₹1.75 crore through multiple channels, including additional contributions from her parents her father contributing ₹10.5 lakh and her mother ₹18 lakh (including retirement funds) as well as loans against her own jewellery and contributions from siblings.

Unbeknownst to her, the money transfers occurred across multiple bank accounts, including ones held with HDFC, Canara Bank, ICICI, and Bank of Baroda. Investigators have noted that of the total taken, only around ₹22.5 lakh was repaid, leaving approximately ₹1.53 crore still unpaid.

The ‘Sister’ Was His Wife And the Accused Have Fled

The narrative began to unravel when the woman visited Gowda’s residence to demand repayment and discovered that he was in fact already married with a child. The person he had consistently introduced as his “sister,” Soumya, was in reality his wife, and there was a deliberate attempt to conceal this fact throughout their relationship. This revelation prompted the victim to approach police.

In her complaint, she also alleged that both Gowda and his family had threatened her and her friends with violence when she pressed for repayment, indicating an alleged effort to intimidate her into silence.

Following the registration of the FIR under sections including criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), law enforcement officials confirmed that all three accused Vijay, his father, and his wife are currently on the run, and a manhunt has been launched to trace them.

Residents and acquaintances of the victim have expressed shock and concern over the elaborate nature of the alleged fraud, noting that the extensive use of fabricated documents and staged introductions made the deception particularly convincing. Legal experts say the case highlights how trust in personal relationships can be exploited for financial gain in the digital age.

Expert Tips for Safe Digital Matchmaking

Experts emphasise that while online matrimonial and dating platforms can facilitate genuine connections, users must exercise heightened caution—especially when relationships move quickly toward financial involvement. Some key precautions and learnings highlighted by experts include:

• Verify Before You Trust: Claims about wealth, businesses, or legal history should always be independently verified through reliable sources. Avoid relying solely on documents or narratives shared by the other person, as these can be fabricated.
• Keep Finances Separate: No matter how emotionally invested a relationship feels, experts strongly advise against lending large sums, investing in a partner’s business, or taking loans on someone else’s behalf without formal agreements and due diligence.
• Watch for Red Flags: Repeated requests for money, urgency framed as “temporary problems,” reluctance to introduce verified family members, or excuses involving frozen accounts and legal troubles are common warning signs of financial manipulation.
• Limit Pressure and Secrecy: Being asked to keep financial transactions secret from family or friends is a major red flag. Healthy relationships allow transparency and do not isolate individuals from their support systems.
• Use Platform Safety Tools: Matrimonial platforms often have reporting and verification features. Experts advise users to report suspicious behavior early and disengage at the first sign of coercion or inconsistency.
• Seek Early Legal or Financial Advice: Before making any significant monetary decision involving another person, consulting a legal or financial professional can help assess risks and prevent irreversible losses.

Experts underline that emotional vulnerability should never be exploited for financial gain, and building awareness around such scams is as important as strengthening legal and technological safeguards.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

This troubling case lays bare the dark side of digital matchmaking when accountability and verification mechanisms lag behind user expectations. Platforms that bring people together have become part of modern social life, offering hope and connection to those seeking companionship. But as this incident starkly demonstrates, they can also be misused by opportunistic individuals who manipulate emotional trust for material gain.

At The Logical Indian, we believe that it is essential not only to advocate for stringent verification processes on matchmaking and social platforms but also to foster a culture where open dialogue, digital literacy, and community awareness empower users to spot red flags early. Such safeguards can protect vulnerable individuals from falling victim to elaborate schemes that exploit their aspirations and emotions.