A case in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, has exposed a serious instance of fraud combined with alleged human trafficking, where a man posing as an IAS officer deceived a family into marriage and then allegedly attempted to sell the bride.
The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, gained the trust of the bride’s family by claiming he was an IAS officer posted in Manikpur. He supported his claim with fabricated photos, videos, and staged appearances suggesting connections with officials. Despite initial claims of refusing dowry, he later demanded Rs 15 lakh under the pretext of wedding expenses, which the bride’s family paid. In total, the family reportedly spent around Rs 30 lakh on the wedding.
The marriage took place on March 11, 2026, but events quickly took a disturbing turn. According to the complaint, the bride was allegedly molested during the journey to her in-laws’ home. Soon after reaching there, she managed to contact her family. When they arrived, they found her confined in a single room under suspicious conditions. Upon their arrival, the groom and his sister fled.
The bride told her family that she believed she was about to be sold, raising strong suspicions of a trafficking network. Further inquiries by the family suggested that the accused may have used fake identities in previous marriages as well, indicating a possible pattern of organised crime.
An FIR has been registered against the accused and his family members. Police have begun an investigation into the matter, including the possibility of a larger trafficking racket. Authorities have stated that efforts are underway to locate and arrest the accused.
