How to deal with matrimonial fraud: an essential guide on drafting complaints

Learn how to build a solid matrimonial fraud case using legal frameworks, drafting complaints that initiate serious investigations and instituting multi-track criminal-civil strategies for maximum recovery. Whether you are a matrimonial lawyer, an aspiring one, or a victim, this guide will come in handy.

Introduction

“At this point, I honestly do not even know if I am even married or if my whole life has been one big lie.”

Tara’s words hung in the air of my chamber. She sat across from my desk, her hands shaking as she carefully arranged a thick folder containing wedding photos with genuine smiles, an official marriage certificate, and pages of printed matrimonial app messages. What seemed like memories of happiness would soon become evidence in one of the most twisted matrimonial fraud cases I had seen in my seven years of practice.

This was not your typical “he said, she said” marital dispute. This was something far more sinister: a carefully orchestrated deception that would force me to rethink everything on various tangents of matrimonial law in our digital world.

Let me tell you about Tara. At 28, she was a successful chartered accountant living in Mumbai who had been navigating the matrimonial app maze for almost two years. You might know how it is: endless profiles, awkward conversations, family pressure. Then “Kabir Malhotra” appeared on an elite matrimonial platform in January 2024, and suddenly, everything clicked into place.

“He was literally everything my parents had been praying for,” Tara told me, and I could hear the bitter irony in her voice. “Google Ireland software engineer, Delhi roots, family settled in Dublin. He even had this subtle Irish accent that made all his stories feel so real.”

The romance unfolded like a Bollywood movie. Kabir would call from what looked like sleek Dublin offices, sharing stories about visa paperwork and plans. He charmed not just Tara but her entire extended family. Within six weeks, the horoscopes were matched, the families had bonded over video calls, and wedding planning was in full swing.

Here is where things get legally tricky, and why matrimonial fraud is not just a “romance scam with extra steps.” When someone tricks you into sending money online, you are dealing with financial fraud. But when someone tricks you into marriage? You are tangled up in legal relationships, religious ceremonies, family honour, and social standing. The courts handle these cases completely differently, and frankly, the legal remedies are way more complex.

Tara’s gut started sending warning signals during wedding prep.

“Looking back, I should have trusted my instincts,” she said. “He kept pushing for just a simple court ceremony, nothing elaborate. Said his parents could not fly in from Ireland because his dad had heart issues. Every single excuse sounded perfectly reasonable when he said it, but now I see how they all fit together like puzzle pieces.”

February 2024, Bandra Family Court. Tara’s side of the family filled half the small courtroom: parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins. Kabir’s representation? Two guys who introduced themselves as his college buddies. No family, no relatives who had flown in for this “life-changing moment.” Just handshakes, signatures, and a legally binding ceremony.

The bomb dropped exactly twenty-three days later.

A Facebook message from someone named Angel. Just eight words that shattered Tara’s world: “I think you have married my husband.”

Everything Tara believed about her new life crumbled in that instant.

What came next was not just personal heartbreak: it became a full-scale legal battle. But here is the thing: Tara’s transformation from naive bride to fierce legal warrior did not happen by accident. We built a systematic, multi-pronged strategy that not only got her marriage annulled but landed the fraudster behind bars.

Through Tara’s journey, you will learn exactly how we did it: the evidence preservation tricks that saved crucial digital proof before it could disappear, the strategic timing that led to the recovery of substantial financial losses, and the smart jurisdictional moves that elevated a local family court case into a landmark legal victory.

What is India’s statutory legal framework?

When Tara finished her story, I knew we had a strong case, but the legal landscape for matrimonial fraud had shifted significantly, and I needed to map out our strategy carefully.

The discovery process that followed reads like a legal thriller, but living through it was Tara’s nightmare.

“Kabir Malhotra” was Rajesh Kumar, a 32-year-old IT support executive from Noida. Not only was he already married to Priya with a four-year-old daughter, but he had been running similar matrimonial frauds across multiple platforms for over two years.

“The Dublin office was a co-working space he had used for three months specifically for video calls,” Tara discovered through her investigation. “The Google Ireland story, the visa struggles, even the Irish accent: everything was rehearsed and practised.”

But here is what made this case particularly challenging from a legal perspective: the marriage was legally valid. Rajesh had used his “real name” during the court registration, just not his real background. The question became not whether fraud had occurred, but how to unravel a legal relationship that was fraudulently obtained.

This is where understanding the difference between voidable and void marriages becomes crucial.

Under section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act, a marriage is voidable (not automatically void) when consent was obtained by fraud. This means we had to actively seek annulment rather than simply declaring the marriage invalid.

Here is what every lawyer handling matrimonial fraud needs to understand:

Section 318 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (“BNS”): Cheating was our primary weapon. In Tara’s case, Rajesh had deceived her about his fundamental identity, fraudulently inducing her to consent to marriage, a legal relationship with significant property and personal implications.

Section 319 of BNS: Criminal impersonation applied because Rajesh had assumed a false persona “Kabir Malhotra”, with fabricated professional credentials and family background, with clear intent to deceive for wrongful gain.

Section 82 of BNS: Bigamy was a textbook applicable: Rajesh had contracted a second marriage while his first marriage to Priya was still valid, fulfilling all elements of bigamy under the new code.

The Information Technology Act provisions are where the real teeth are:

Section 66D – Cheating by personation using computer resources carries a punishment of up to three years imprisonment and a fine up to one lakh rupees. The matrimonial platform fraud, fake email addresses, and digital impersonation fell squarely under this provision.

Section 66C: Identity theft was applicable because Rajesh had fraudulently used identity information to impersonate someone else online.

More importantly, we had multiple legal tracks available:

• Civil matrimonial remedies under the Hindu Marriage Act
• Criminal remedies under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act
• Recovery proceedings for financial losses
• Protective orders to prevent continued harassment

“Which path do we take first?” Tara asked during our initial strategy session.

My answer would define her entire legal journey: “We take them all, but in the right sequence.”

Building the digital evidence database

I have learned that matrimonial fraud cases live or die on digital evidence. Unlike traditional fraud cases, where you might have physical documents or witnesses, here everything exists in the digital realm, and it is frighteningly easy to lose.

After handling dozens of matrimonial fraud cases, I have learned that success depends on understanding the interconnected nature of the available remedies. Each legal track supports the others, but the timing and sequence matter enormously.

My first instruction to Tara was immediate evidence preservation:

“Do not delete anything. Do not even open the app until we have created a complete backup,” I told her. “Every screenshot, every conversation, every notification: it all matters now.”

Our immediate priorities were:

• Phase 1: Preserve evidence and secure protection (Weeks 1-2)
• Phase 2: File criminal complaint for investigation (Week 3)
• Phase 3: Initiate civil annulment proceedings (Week 4)
• Phase 4: Recovery and enforcement (Ongoing)

“What exactly do we need to prove?” Tara asked as we began documenting her case.

In matrimonial fraud, evidence serves multiple purposes across different legal proceedings. We needed to establish:

• The deceptive representations made (for fraud under section 318 of BNS)
• The false identity elements (for personation under section 319 of BNS)
• The digital deception (for IT Act violations)
• The impact on the marriage consent, which leads to annulment (under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act)
• The financial and emotional damages (for recovery claims)

We spent the next week methodically documenting everything:

1. Digital evidence trail:

• Complete matrimonial app conversation history (over 1200 messages over 6 weeks)
• Video call recordings are legally permissible (over 100 calls)
• Email communications, including fake employment documents
• WhatsApp chats including location sharing from “Dublin”
• Social media interactions across multiple platforms

2. Physical documentation:
   

• Marriage registration certificate
• Wedding photographs and videos
• Travel bookings and expenses for wedding arrangements
• Financial transfers made for wedding and “visa” purposes
• Witness statements from family members who attended the wedding

3. Investigation evidence:

• Private detective report confirming Rajesh’s real identity and existing marriage
• Verification of a fake Dublin address and Google Ireland employment
• Bank account analysis showing a pattern of fraudulent activities
• Cross-reference with other potential victims (we found three more)

But here is where many lawyers falter: they treat digital evidence like traditional documents. Digital evidence requires understanding metadata, establishing a chain of custody, and ensuring admissibility under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023.

Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 is critical here. Any electronic record must be accompanied by a certificate identifying the electronic record, describing how it was produced, and giving particulars of any device involved.

I prepared detailed certificates for every piece of digital evidence, signed by Tara as the person in lawful custody of the computer/device that produced the records.

The complaint drafting strategy

Here is the truth: there is no magic formula for writing a police complaint. You do not need fancy legal jargon, complex strategies, or impressive vocabulary. What you need is to tell your story clearly and honestly.

First of all, know your audience. 

Your complaint is not going to a high-court judge in an air-conditioned chamber. It is going to an investigating officer (IO) at your local police station: someone who is probably:

• Handling 20+ cases simultaneously
• Working with limited resources
• Possibly not fluent in English
• Just trying to get through their day

If you write like you are arguing in a court, you will likely confuse them or make them suspicious. A simple, straightforward complaint gets results faster.

The only “strategy” you need

Make sure the IO can quickly understand:

• What happened to you
• Who did it
• When it happened
• Why is it a crime

That is it. No need to sound like a lawyer or impress anyone with big words.

What should every good complaint have?

Think of it like telling a friend what happened, but with these key details:

1. Who you are: Your name, age, where you live, phone number
2. Who hurt you: Their name, address (if you know it), how you know them
3. Your story, step by step: What happened first, then what, then what
4. What laws did they break: If you know (but don’t worry if you don’t)
5. Proof you have: Photos, messages, documents, witnesses
6. What you want – “Please take cognisance of the offence/s”. 

Can my Lawyer file the complaint for me?

No, and here is why this matters:

Your lawyer cannot walk into a police station and file a complaint in their own name about something that happened to you. The police need to hear from you: the person who actually experienced the crime.

Think about it: if someone else tells your story, how can the police be sure it is accurate? They need your firsthand account, your emotions, your perspective.

What your lawyer CAN do:

• Help you write the complaint
• Come with you to the police station
• Explain your legal rights
• Make sure you include important details

What your lawyer CANNOT do:

• Sign the complaint for you
• File it in their name
• Speak for you as if they witnessed the crime

Why does this rule exist

Police have seen too many cases where lawyers “enhance” stories or add legal theories that were not part of the original incident. When you file your own complaint, it is authentic. It is your voice, your experience, your truth.

Remember: the police are there to help you, not judge your writing skills. Focus on getting your story across, and let them do their job.

Here is the complaint that was drafted and filed by Tara under my guidance. 

To, 

Superintendent of Police/Deputy Inspector of Police

Cybercrime Unit 1st Floor, G-Block, 

Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra (East), 

Mumbai – 400051

CC: 

Bandra Police Station, 

Bandra, 

Mumbai – 400050

Subject: Complaint under sections 82, 318, 319, 336 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 66C, 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 against the Accused, Mr. Rajesh Kumar alias “Kabir Malhotra” for matrimonial fraud, bigamy, criminal impersonation, cheating and cyber fraud.

Sir/Madam,

The present Complaint is filed by me, Ms. Tara Joshi (hereinafter the “Complainant”) against one Mr. Rajesh Kumar, son of [Father’s Name], residing at Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, who fraudulently operated under the false identity of “Kabir Malhotra” on the matrimonial platform “EliteMatrimony” and other digital platforms, for systematically defrauding me through an elaborate matrimonial fraud scheme involving bigamy, criminal impersonation, cheating and cyber fraud that resulted in a fraudulent marriage and subsequent severe emotional, psychological and financial damages. The chronology of the facts is as follows:

1. I am Ms. Tara Joshi, aged 28 years, a qualified Chartered Accountant residing at [residential address], Mumbai. On 5th January 2024, I was contacted through the matrimonial platform “EliteMatrimony” by the Accused using the fabricated identity “Kabir Malhotra” who presented himself as a 30-year-old Software Engineer working at Google Ireland Limited, Dublin, Ireland, claiming to be an IIT Delhi graduate. The Accused used Platform Profile ID: EM_KM_8901234 and WhatsApp contact: +353-XX-XXX-XXXX to establish contact with me.
2. In the beginning, the Accused invested significant time and effort in creating emotional dependency and securing family acceptance through daily communication patterns. The Accused then shared fabricated personal stories about his childhood, education, career progression, and family background, weaving a web of lies designed to create an emotional connection and trust. He demonstrated apparent cultural compatibility by discussing marriage traditions, religious practices, and family values, while simultaneously engaging in detailed conversations about our future together, including plans for relocation to Ireland and starting a family. 

3. During this time, the Accused conducted over 100 regular video calls from what appeared to be authentic Dublin office premises, complete with professional background settings and even introduced me to supposed “colleagues” during these calls. Throughout this period, he engaged extensively with my family members, participating in traditional introduction ceremonies via video calls, speaking respectfully with my parents, siblings, and extended family, and even learning specific family traditions to demonstrate his commitment. This calculated approach generated over 2100 WhatsApp messages and 1200 matrimonial platform messages, creating a comprehensive digital trail of deception designed to build unshakeable trust and emotional connection with both myself and my entire family network.
   
4. Thereafter, in February 2024, once complete family acceptance was established and emotional dependency secured, the Accused proposed marriage while avoiding all traditional verification processes that would have exposed his criminal deception. He created false urgency by insisting on an immediate court marriage, citing fabricated “visa complications” and claiming that delays would jeopardise his employment status with Google Ireland. When my family suggested meeting extended relatives and conducting traditional pre-marriage ceremonies, the Accused avoided these by citing “international travel restrictions” of his supposed employer. To further legitimise his false identity, he provided sophisticated fabricated employment verification documents purportedly from Google Ireland Limited, complete with official letterheads, employee identification numbers, and forged signatures from HR personnel. The Accused also presented fake character certificates, educational credentials, and even arranged for actors to pose as his family members during brief video interactions. 
5. Despite these red flags, his months of emotional manipulation had created such deep trust that these inconsistencies were overlooked. The marriage was solemnised on 18th February 2024 at Bandra Family Court, Mumbai, with Registration Number: [Marriage Certificate Number], where the Accused provided false identity documents and arranged minimal representation with only two unknown individuals as witnesses, claiming his family couldn’t attend due to “emergency work commitments” in Ireland. The ceremony itself was rushed, with the Accused displaying unusual nervousness and constantly checking his phone, a behaviour that now appears suspicious in hindsight.
   
6. However, the Accused’s elaborate criminal scheme started to unfold on 8th March 2024, exactly 18 days after our marriage, when I received a shocking and devastating Facebook message from one “Priya Kumari” with the chilling words: “I think you have married my husband.” The message included photographs of the Accused with a woman and young child in what appeared to be family settings, completely contradicting his claims of being single. Priya Kumari’s subsequent messages revealed the devastating truth that shattered my world entirely – the Accused’s real identity was Rajesh Kumar, not Kabir Malhotra as he had claimed throughout our relationship. His actual profession was revealed to be an IT Support Executive working in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, earning a modest salary, completely contrary to his claims of being a high-earning Google Ireland Engineer living in Dublin. 
7. Most devastatingly, Priya Kumari provided evidence that she had been legally married to Rajesh Kumar since 2019 and that they had a 4-year-old daughter together, making our marriage not only fraudulent but also constituting the serious crime of bigamy. Further investigation conducted through private detectives revealed the shocking scope of the Accused’s criminal enterprise; he was simultaneously operating fraudulent profiles across 6+ matrimonial platforms, including Shaadi.com, Bharat Matrimony, Jeevansathi.com, and others, using different false identities, stolen photographs, and fabricated credentials to target multiple innocent women for similar matrimonial fraud. Each profile contained variations of the same deceptive information, suggesting a systematic pattern of criminal behaviour designed to exploit vulnerable women seeking genuine matrimonial alliances.
8. When confronted with this overwhelming evidence on 10th March 2024 through multiple communication channels, the Accused’s response clearly demonstrated his guilty knowledge and criminal intent. Initially, he vehemently denied all allegations, claiming that Priya Kumari was a “jealous ex-girlfriend” trying to sabotage his happiness, and even went so far as to produce additional fabricated documents attempting to prove his innocence. When presented with photographic evidence, marriage certificates, and birth certificates proving his existing marriage and child, the Accused’s story began changing rapidly. He then claimed it was a “complicated situation” and promised to “explain everything” once he could “sort out the misunderstanding.” However, when pressed for immediate clarification and asked to provide verifiable proof of his claims, the Accused became evasive, making excuses about needing time to “gather documents” and “speak with lawyers.” Within 24 hours of this confrontation, it became evident that the Accused had no intention of providing any legitimate explanation, as he deliberately and systematically ceased all communication across every platform. He blocked me on WhatsApp, removed me from all social media platforms, deleted his matrimonial profiles, and even disconnected the phone number he had been using throughout our relationship. This pattern of immediate abandonment and digital erasure clearly indicates consciousness of guilt and demonstrates that the Accused deliberately used stolen photographs, forged employment documents, and created an elaborate false persona with the sole and specific intention of committing matrimonial fraud and bigamy against innocent victims.
   
9. It is relevant to mention here that the Accused’s calculated criminal acts have caused devastating and lasting psychological damage to me. The profound betrayal and systematic deception have resulted in severe clinical depression and acute anxiety disorder requiring intensive psychiatric care since 10th March 2024. The ripple effects extend beyond my suffering: my parents are experiencing severe guilt and self-blame for encouraging the marriage, my siblings face social embarrassment within our community, and our family’s reputation has been significantly damaged. Additionally, I now face persistent community stigma and judgment in both professional and social circles, with colleagues and friends viewing me with pity or suspicion.
10. The Accused has also caused substantial and quantifiable financial losses totalling Rs. 5,80,000, representing a significant financial burden that compounds the emotional and psychological trauma inflicted upon me and my family. These losses include wedding expenses of Rs. 2,50,000 covering venue booking, catering, photography, traditional ceremonies, bridal attire, jewellery, and gifts for the Accused’s supposed family members who never existed. Family travel and accommodation expenses totalled Rs. 50,000, including airfare and hotel costs for out-of-station relatives who travelled specifically to attend the wedding, believing they were celebrating a legitimate union. Legal and investigation costs have reached Rs. 2,80,000. 
11. These financial losses represent months of savings and have created additional stress and hardship for my family, who had already invested emotionally and financially in what they believed was my legitimate marriage and future happiness. The economic impact continues to grow as legal proceedings advance and as I remain unable to work at full capacity due to the psychological trauma inflicted by the Accused’s criminal actions.
12. It is thus quite evident that these actions are willful, deliberate and intentional acts of matrimonial fraud, bigamy, criminal impersonation, and cyber cheating, causing severe psychological trauma, financial loss, and social humiliation, and hence liable to be taken stringent legal action against. The complete evidence, including digital archives, investigation reports, and marriage documentation, is produced along with this Complaint.

Therefore, on the basis of the above-mentioned facts and circumstances, it is humbly requested to take cognisance of the aforementioned offences against the Accused, Mr. Rajesh Kumar alias “Kabir Malhotra”, and investigate the aforesaid Complaint and take immediate and appropriate legal action against the Accused. 

Complainant

Ms. Tara Joshi 

Contact: [Phone Number] 

Address: [Residential Address], Mumbai

ENCLOSURES:

• Complainant’s identity documents
• Digital evidence collection (DVD with 1500+ files)
• Marriage documentation and photographs
• Private investigation report
• Financial loss documentation and bank statements

Jurisdiction

“Where do we file this complaint?” Tara asked. It is a question that determines everything that follows.

Just like any other fraud, matrimonial frauds create jurisdictional challenges. The victim is in one location, the fraudster’s claimed location is another, the actual fraudster could be in a third location, and the matrimonial platform might be headquartered elsewhere.

Here is my decision matrix:

Local police station: File here if you want quick registration and the case involves straightforward local elements. But be prepared for limited technical capability in complex digital investigations.

Cybercrime unit: Better equipped for technical investigation, but may have longer processing times. Essential if the fraud involves sophisticated technical elements like fake profiles, digital impersonation, or interstate coordination.

Online cybercrime portal (cybercrime.gov.in): Useful for immediate reporting and creating a digital trail, but follow up with a physical complaint for serious investigation.

Family court (for civil remedies): Where the marriage was registered has jurisdiction for annulment proceedings.

In Tara’s case, I chose a multi-faceted approach:

1. Immediate online reporting followed by a detailed complaint to the Mumbai Cybercrime cell
2. Parallel civil annulment filing in Bandra Family Court
3. Coordination requests with UP Police, where Rajesh resided

Why this strategy? The nature of the fraud, the substantial emotional and financial impact, and the need for technical investigation made the cybercrime unit the optimal choice for criminal proceedings.

“Why are we filing in three different places?” Tara’s father asked during one of our family consultations.

Matrimonial fraud cases often involve multiple jurisdictions, and strategic forum selection can determine success or failure.

Our jurisdictional strategy:

1. Criminal complaint: Bandra police station

• Where the marriage was registered (crucial for establishing local jurisdiction)
• Where Tara resided (victim’s jurisdiction)
• Strong cybercrime unit with technical investigation capabilities

2. Civil annulment: Bandra family court

• Same jurisdiction as marriage registration (procedural efficiency)
• Familiarity with matrimonial fraud patterns
• Coordinate hearings with criminal proceedings

3. Recovery proceedings: As circumstances developed

• Traced Rajesh’s assets to Noida (may require UP jurisdiction)
• Matrimonial platform headquarters in Bangalore (potential corporate liability)
• Flexibility to choose the most favourable recovery jurisdiction

The cybercrime complaint through cybercrime.gov.in: This created a national database entry and ensured coordination between the Mumbai Police and the UP Police, where Rajesh actually resided.

The investigation phase

“How long will this take?” It is the question every client asks, and the one we struggle to answer honestly.

Criminal investigation in matrimonial fraud cases requires technical sophistication that many local police stations lack. Our strategy involved active coordination with investigating officers while pursuing civil remedies simultaneously.

I have learned to prepare clients for three possible outcomes:

• Best case scenario: Fraudster is identified, existing marriage confirmed, annulment granted, partial recovery possible. Timeline: 8-15 months.
• Moderate outcome: Investigation leads to arrest and conviction, annulment granted, but limited financial recovery. Timeline: 15-24 months.
• Challenging outcome: Limited leads, investigation faces technical or jurisdictional hurdles, annulment granted, but minimal recovery. Timeline: 24+ months.

Three months into the investigation, we achieved our first breakthrough. 

And thereafter, there was no looking back. A few months into the investigation, it revealed:

• Systematic operation: Rajesh had been running this fraud for over two years
• Multiple identities: Six different personas across different platforms
• Geographic targeting: Victims in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Delhi
• Sophisticated preparation: Each identity had detailed backstories, fake documents, and supporting social media profiles
• Technical sophistication: Use of VPNs, fake location services, and coordinated communication across multiple devices

In the midst of all of this, we decided on selective coordination: sharing information that strengthened the criminal case while maintaining independent civil proceedings for Tara’s specific damages.

Civil remedies

While the criminal case progressed, I advised Tara to consider civil remedies. Many lawyers focus exclusively on criminal law in matrimonial fraud cases, missing opportunities for faster resolution and comprehensive relief.

The family court proceedings moved in parallel to the criminal investigation, each track reinforcing the other.

Why annulment instead of divorce?

This question reveals a crucial strategic consideration. Annulment treats the marriage as if it never existed legally, while divorce acknowledges a valid marriage that is being terminated. For fraud cases, annulment provides:

• Complete legal erasure of the marital relationship
• Restoration to pre-marriage status without stigma
• Stronger foundation for criminal prosecution
• Cleaner recovery of matrimonial expenses
• No implications for future marriage prospects

The annulment petition highlighted:

“The marriage was contracted based on fundamental misrepresentations regarding the respondent’s identity, marital status, employment, and family background. The petitioner’s consent was obtained through deliberate fraud, rendering the marriage voidable under section 12(1)(c) of the Hindu Marriage Act.”

Key strategic elements in our petition:

• Chronological fraud timeline showing systematic deception over six weeks
• Specific false representations with evidence of their fabrication
• Impact on consent, demonstrating that the truth would have prevented marriage
• Supporting criminal proceedings establishing the criminal nature
• Prayer for complete annulment with costs and compensation

Rajesh’s response to the annulment petition was revealing:

He did not deny the false representations but claimed they were “minor misunderstandings” that did not affect the validity of the marriage consent. His lawyer argued that since the marriage was legally registered with his real name, no fundamental fraud had occurred.

This response played directly into our strategy.

Our counter-argument focused on the concept of “free consent” in matrimonial law:

“The petitioner’s consent was predicated entirely on false representations about fundamental aspects of the respondent’s identity, background, and circumstances. No reasonable person would have consented to marriage with knowledge of the facts.”

We supported this with:

• Detailed timeline showing systematic deception over six weeks
• Expert testimony on the psychological impact of matrimonial fraud
• Comparative analysis showing the material difference between represented facts and reality
• Witness statements from family members about their decision-making process

Here is what I learned about combining criminal and civil remedies:

• The criminal complaint creates official recognition of the fraud
• Civil suits provide a recovery mechanism
• Evidence gathered for criminal cases strengthens civil suits
• Civil judgments can support criminal prosecution
• Parallel proceedings create additional pressure on fraudsters

Six months after filing, the family court granted Tara’s annulment petition.

The judge’s order was particularly strong: “The respondent’s conduct demonstrates a calculated pattern of deception designed to obtain the petitioner’s consent through fraudulent misrepresentation of material facts. Such consent cannot be considered free or informed within the meaning of matrimonial law.”

The resolution

As I write this, two years after Tara first walked into my chamber, her case represents both the challenges and possibilities in matrimonial fraud litigation.

With criminal conviction secured and civil annulment granted, the final challenge was the recovery of Tara’s losses.

The criminal case: Rajesh Kumar was arrested and charged under multiple sections of the BNS and IT Act. The sophisticated technical investigation revealed a network of matrimonial frauds that had affected over 12 victims across four states. He received a two-year imprisonment sentence, and his conviction created legal precedent for future matrimonial fraud cases.

The civil victory: The annulment was granted with strong judicial observations about the sophisticated nature of digital matrimonial fraud and the need for platform accountability.

The recovery: Through a combination of criminal compensation, civil suits, and platform settlements, we recovered approximately 7 lakhs of Tara’s total losses.

The recovery strategy involved multiple approaches:

• Criminal court compensation: The sessions court awarded Rs. 2 lakhs as victim compensation under the state victim compensation scheme
• Civil recovery suit: Filed in Delhi (where Rajesh’s assets were traced) for remaining damages, including interest and costs
• Asset attachment: Secured attachment of Rajesh’s bank accounts and property before he could dissipate them
• Platform liability: Following verification failures by the matrimonial platform, I served a legal notice threatening action against deficiency in services, misleading advertisement and unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act 2019. This led to discussions with the platform and resulted in an out-of-court settlement of Rs. 1 lakh.

Preventive measures

“Could this have been prevented?” Tara asked me during our final meeting.

The question that every matrimonial fraud victim asks, and the one that shapes our preventive counsel for future clients.

The guide I developed combines hard-learned lessons with practical prevention strategies:

Bottom line

As I write this, matrimonial fraud is becoming more sophisticated, not less. Artificial intelligence is enabling better fake profiles, deepfake technology is making video verification unreliable, and international mobility is making jurisdiction more complex. But our legal framework is also evolving. Enhanced BNS provisions provide stronger criminal remedies, IT Act amendments address digital impersonation more comprehensively, family court procedures are incorporating cyber evidence protocols, and victim compensation schemes are expanding coverage. Yet technology is evolving faster than the law.

Every matrimonial fraud case I handle now teaches me something new about digital deception techniques, cross-border enforcement challenges, or victim psychology patterns. The lawyers who will thrive in this space are those who approach each case as both an individual client matter and a contribution to our collective understanding of digital age matrimonial crime. Tara’s case closed two years ago, but her story continues to guide how I approach every matrimonial fraud that walks through my door. Because in the end, that is what makes us effective advocates in the digital age: not just knowing the law, but understanding the lives it is meant to protect, and staying ahead of the predators who exploit the gaps in our legal understanding.