BAREILLY: Arvind Agarwal had a tough time believing that he was plundered by none other than his bride who fled with cash and valuables.

At 42, finding a bride for Arvind was not a cakewalk for his family, but they managed it with the help of a marriage bureau after paying a hefty sum of Rs 30,000.

On March 6, Arvind got married to Rupa, 29, from Kanda village of Bageshwar district in

, and just two days after he was reporting police that his wife had robbed him and fled with Rs 50,000 cash and

, which his mother had given them as gift.

According to police, on Saturday evening, Rupa sent Arvind, an electrician who lives in Math Laxmipur area under

police station, to buy medicines for her and locked her mother-in-law inside the kitchen, and fled with cash and jewellery.

Arvind said, “As it was not easy to find a bride at 42, and my mother was also quite worried about my marriage, I called my friend Harish Kumar in

. Harish introduced me to a marriage bureau broker, who promised me to find a suitable bride and charged a fee of Rs 30,000, which I paid immediately. The broker gave me the contact of Rupa. After several rounds of talks with Rupa and her family members, we got married on March 6 in

. The next day her family members left for their village.”

“On Saturday evening, when Rupa and I were in our room and my mother was in the kitchen, Rupa told me that she was feeling sick and needed medicine. Following which, I left for nearby market.

“However, upon return, I was shocked to find my mother locked inside the kitchen and Rupa missing from the house. As things were strewn all over place, I searched for jewellery and cash, but found them missing. Rupa had fled with Rs 50,000 and jewellery, which my mother had given us as marriage gift. I immediately informed police.”

Station house officer (SHO) of Izzatnagar police station Manoj Kumar Tyagi said, “We have not yet received a written complaint in this connection. After receiving a complaint, we will take appropriate action.”