Mumbai: 1 arrested, search continues for bride who escaped with jewellery, cash

The Malad police have arrested the agent and still searching for the bride who allegedly escaped with jewellery and valuables worth about Rs 4 lahk from grooms house three days after weddingAccording to the police sources the accused has been identified as Kamlesh Kadam 44 a Silvassa resident The cops arrested him from Virar last week Under the supervision of DCP Ajay Kumar Bansal senior inspector Ravindra Adhane PSI Digambar Lengre and his team constantly locating the accused Kadamrsquos finally caught him in Virar last weekWe could not search for the accused Asha Gaikwad the bride because Kadam has no clue about her While interrogating Kadam he told that one of his friends Kashyap living in Silvassa had introduced him to Asha But unfortunately Kashyap died so he was not aware about Asharsquos whereabouts said an officer Kadam has been working as a matchmaking agent living alone in Silvassa Earlier he was working in a private company and working as a matchmaking marriage agent for 5 years he came in contact with 71yearold matchmaking marriage agent whom the complainant contacted for the marriage of his son the officer saidA Maladbased 56yearold doctor was looking for the marriage of his 24yearold son who was having difficulty in speaking since childhood However they were unable to find a match due to the sonrsquos stammering and disability which prompted them to approach an agentLast February he received a call from Dahisarbased agent who was knowing Kadam and the duo came to the complainants house in Malad said an officerTwo days later Kadam and two women Asha Gaikwad accused bride and Manisha Kashyap said to the aunt of the Gaikwad came to the complainants house and Kadam pretended that Asha was being cared for by her aunt rather than her parentsThe complainant agreed to the marriage and within a day the marriage ceremony was done in a temple in the Malad And two days later Asha escaped taking jewellery and valuables said an officerManisha Kashyap who claimed to be Asharsquos aunt Cops say this is likely a part of a big racket Asha however in her last call claimed she was married and had two kids and did it only for the moneyPolice sources said the complainants family owns a hospital in Malad and had been looking for a bride for their 28yearold son However they were unable to find a match due to the sonrsquos stammering and disability which prompted them to approach an agent In his statement to the police the 56yearold businessman stated that they came across an agent named Kamlesh Kadam who introduced them to one Asha Gaikwad Asha claimed she was an orphan and was raised by her aunt Manisha Kashyap After the family agreed Kadam demanded Rs 10000 for facilitating the matchThe wedding took place in a temple on March 29 in the presence of family members from both sides The next day Kadam again approached the businessman asking that the marriage be registered at the court as Asharsquos aunt was apprehensive that the family would abandon Asha laterHowever when the families went to court to file the papers for registration Manisha demanded Rs 15 lakh to sign the papers The groomrsquos family agreed and immediately gave her Rs 40000 and paid the rest in multiple transactions the next dayAfter this Asha went to the groomrsquos house and lived there for three days On April 1 Asha clad in all the jewellery she was given at the wedding told the family that she was leaving to go to the market As she did not return till late the groomrsquos father called her on her phone and found that it was switched offHe also called Kadam and Kashyap but did not get any leads He then called Asharsquos number again from his wifersquos phone and she answered Asha allegedly told him that she was married had two kids and was in dire need of money She added that she got married at the insistence of Kadam and Manisha for the money The groomrsquos family then approached the police following which an FIR was registered on TuesdayldquoWe have booked three accused including two women under sections 406 criminal breach of trust 420 cheating and 34 common intention of the IPC