Bengaluru Matrimony Fraud: Engineer Duped of ₹1.52 Crore

A significant matrimonial scam has emerged from Bengaluru, unveiling the case of a 29-year-old software engineer who was conned out of over ₹1.52 crore by an individual she met on a matrimonial website. The perpetrator, posing as a wealthy entrepreneur, is now facing severe legal charges along with his family.

Navya Shree, residing in Whitefield, connected with Vijay Raj Gowda, also known as Vijeth B, in March 2024 via an Okkaliga matrimony website. Vijay portrayed himself as the owner of VRG Enterprises, asserting he had investments in various assets such as crushers, lorries, and extensive land holdings in prime locations like Rajajinagar and Sadashivanagar, claiming his net worth was around ₹715 crore.

To gain Navya’s confidence, Vijay allegedly shared documents linked to a 2019 Enforcement Directorate investigation, including a bail order, portraying himself as a prominent businessman entangled in legal issues. He assured Navya of marriage, claiming familial approval.

The alleged deceit began in early April when Vijay solicited ₹15,000 from Navya via a digital payment app, citing a temporary banking issue. He subsequently persuaded her to invest more in his ventures and urged her to borrow money from friends by promising significant returns.

Vijay introduced his family to Navya at Kengeri Metro Station, with his father, Krishnappa B Gowda, falsely claiming to be a retired Tehsildar, assuring her family that the invested amount would be returned safely. Cheques were issued in the name of VRG Enterprises to boost their confidence.

According to the police report, Vijay also enlisted Navya’s friends, persuading them to invest large sums. One friend put in ₹66 lakh, while another contributed ₹23 lakh. When repayment was sought, Vijay claimed his accounts were frozen due to a court case, providing purported court orders as proof.

He later approached Navya’s parents with the same documents, resulting in her father allegedly giving ₹10.5 lakh between December 2024 and February 2025, and her mother investing ₹18 lakh, funded partly from her retirement savings. Additionally, Vijay reportedly took ₹10 lakh against Navya’s jewelry and borrowed ₹5 lakh from her siblings.

The truth unraveled when Navya demanded her money at Vijay’s residence, only to discover he was already married with a child. The woman he referred to as his sister turned out to be his wife, with whom he had been married for three years. Navya claims the entire family was complicit in the scheme.

In her report, Navya mentioned that upon confronting Vijay and his family, she and her friends faced threats. She stated that Vijay amassed ₹1,75,66,890 through various bank accounts, with only ₹22,51,800 returned, leaving an outstanding sum of ₹1,53,15,090.

Police have initiated an investigation, registering a case of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and criminal intimidation against Vijay, his father, and his wife. The inquiry aims to trace the financial trail and uncover the depth of the fraudulent activities.

This incident raises significant concerns regarding online matrimonial platforms, highlighting the increasing financial frauds disguised as marriage offers, particularly in urban technology centers like Bengaluru.