Bengaluru Matrimonial Fraud: Software Engineer Duped of Over ₹1.52 Crore

Post by : Mina Rahman

In Bengaluru, a troubling case of matrimonial fraud has emerged, with a 29-year-old software engineer reportedly swindled of more than ₹1.52 crore by a man she encountered on a matrimonial website. The suspect, who misrepresented himself as a wealthy entrepreneur, is now facing severe legal consequences alongside his family.

Navya Shree, living in Whitefield, met Vijay Raj Gowda, also referred to as Vijeth B, in March 2024 via an Okkaliga matrimony platform. He claimed to be the owner of VRG Enterprises with significant business interests in various sectors, asserting his total assets were worth ₹715 crore.

To build trust, Vijay shared documents from a 2019 Enforcement Directorate case, depicting himself as a powerful individual involved in legal troubles due to his wealth. He expressed intentions to marry Navya, asserting his family was supportive of their union.

The deception began in early April when Vijay requested ₹15,000 through a digital payment application, citing temporary banking issues. He subsequently encouraged Navya to invest in his ventures, persuading her to take out loans and gather funds from friends with promises of returns and financial stability.

He later introduced family members to bolster his story, including his father, Krishnappa B Gowda, who falsely claimed to be a retired Tehsildar, assuring Navya that all funds would be securely returned. Cheques were issued under VRG Enterprises to further instill confidence.

The police report indicates that Vijay also drew Navya’s friends into the scheme, convincing one to invest ₹66 lakh and another ₹23 lakh. When they sought repayment, he falsely claimed his accounts were frozen due to a court case, providing doctored documents as evidence.

In a startling revelation, when Navya visited Vijay’s residence to reclaim her investments, she discovered he had a wife and child. The individual presented as his sister was actually his spouse, and they had been married for three years. Navya alleged that his entire family was complicit in the deception.

Navya's complaint further detailed threats against her and her friends by Vijay and his relatives. She estimates that Vijay obtained ₹1,75,66,890 through various accounts, with only ₹22,51,800 being returned, resulting in an outstanding balance of ₹1,53,15,090.

Authorities have filed charges against Vijay, his father, and his wife for cheating, criminal conspiracy, and intimidation. An investigation is underway to follow the financial trail and uncover the full scale of this scam.

This incident underscores the risks associated with online matrimonial services and highlights the alarming trend of financial fraud disguised as relationship offers, particularly in tech-savvy cities like Bengaluru.