JAIPUR/ALWAR: Uninvited guests entering wedding parties and leaving after a sumptuous dinner is passe.
An unknown man is now giving sleepless nights to Bharatpur police. He has been going to wedding functions, introducing himself to the bride’s family and taking the responsibility of receiving gift money from relatives and friends. After the wedding function, he finds a suitable opportunity and decamps with the loot.
Police said over the past fortnight, he has managed to steal at least Rs 2 lakh from five weddings in Bharatpur.
TOI on Tuesday spoke to Bharatpur police to find out details on this crime in the wedding season.
“We have so far registered FIRs at Atalband, Kotwali and Nadbai police stations in which complainants have said that bags containing gift money were stolen from the marriage venues. We have collected CCTV camera footage and found that one person was seen in all three venues where these thefts took place. Only after his arrest, we will be able to know if a gang is also involved,” said Satish Verma, circle officer (city), Bharatpur.
Police said that so far five cases have come to their notice though the number of such thefts could be more.
In a wedding held on February 5 at Gopal Marriage Home in Bharatpur, the man posed as a friend of the maternal uncle of the bridegroom. “It was the wedding of the daughter of a jawan of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) in which the accused claimed to be the friend of maternal uncle of the bridegroom and said that due to the rush, they should take his help in collection of gift cash,” said a senior police officer.
Similarly, at Nadbai police station, the accused claimed himself to be a friend of the bridegroom. “In all these incidents, the accused arrived much prior to the start of the wedding function. We have identified the accused and efforts are on to arrest him,” the officer added.
