A man cheated a young software engineer of nearly ₹1.75 crore on the pretext of marriage. The police booked three members of the same family, charging them under cheating and criminal intimidation.
The accused has been identified as Vijay Raj Gowda, along with his father Boregowda, and a woman named Soumya. The victim, a 29-year-old software engineer from Whitefield, approached the police after discovering that the man who promised to marry her was already married and had a child.
According to the complaint, the victim came into contact with Vijay Raj Gowda through a matrimonial website in March 2024. He allegedly showcased himself as a wealthy businessman, claiming ownership of assets worth ₹715 crore.
Gowda allegedly gained the victim’s trust by introducing her to his family and assuring her that he would marry her. During one such meeting near Kengeri, he introduced his wife as his ‘sister’, concealing his marital status.
Later, he claimed that his bank accounts had been frozen due to an ED-related issue and showed her alleged court documents, including copies purportedly related to cases in the High Court and Supreme Court. Citing financial difficulties, he initially borrowed ₹15,000, followed by larger amounts.
Police said the accused persuaded the victim to take loans in her name and also induced her to borrow money from friends and relatives, promising joint business ventures. He further encouraged the victim’s friends to invest, assuring them of high returns.
Over several months, the accused allegedly collected money in instalments from the victim, her friends, and relatives, amounting to ₹1.75 crore. Though he returned ₹22 lakh at one point, he later refused to repay the remaining amount.
When the victim and her friends demanded their money back, the accused allegedly issued threats. The fraud came to light when the victim discovered that Gowda was already married and had a child.
Following the complaint, a case was initially registered at the Whitefield Police Station and later transferred to the Kengeri Police Station for further investigation. Police have registered a case against all three accused and are probing the role of each family member in the alleged conspiracy.
Published – January 18, 2026 08:50 pm IST
