What began as a hopeful search for a life partner on a matrimonial website has exposed a web of deception, emotional manipulation, and financial fraud spanning multiple districts of West Bengal.
Kolkata Police have arrested Matiur Rahman, a resident of the Bowbazar area in central Kolkata, for creating a fake Hindu identity and targeting women through matrimonial platforms. Investigators believe Rahman posed as “Manik Roy”, presented himself as a successful Hindu professional, and used promises of marriage to gain the trust of women before seeking money and valuables from them.
Police suspect that as many as 15 Hindu women may have been targeted through the scheme, though officials believe the actual number could be higher as the investigation progresses.
According to investigators, Rahman carefully built the persona of “Manik Roy” to appear as an ideal marriage prospect.
Police say he claimed to be a highly successful professional earning nearly Rs 1.5 crore annually. The image of financial stability, career success, and readiness for marriage reportedly helped him attract women who were genuinely searching for life partners on matrimonial websites.
Investigators allege that after establishing contact, the accused gradually built emotional connections with his targets, gained the confidence of their families, and initiated discussions about marriage.
The case came to light after a young woman from Naihati in North 24 Parganas approached the police with a complaint.
According to her statement, she met the accused through a matrimonial platform and soon developed a close relationship with him. As the relationship progressed, discussions reportedly reached the stage where marriage plans were shared with family members.
However, the woman alleged that the relationship eventually turned into a pattern of repeated financial demands.
According to the complaint, Rahman frequently sought money citing various personal emergencies and financial difficulties. Believing she was helping the man she intended to marry, the woman handed over Rs 85,000 in cash, a gold bracelet, and other valuables.
Police say the requests became increasingly frequent and were often accompanied by emotional appeals and assurances about their future together.
The complainant’s doubts reportedly began when the accused informed her that his maternal uncle had passed away and urgently requested money to be transferred to a bank account belonging to relatives in Mumbai.
As she attempted to verify the information, inconsistencies reportedly emerged.
Further inquiries revealed that the accused’s family roots were linked to East Burdwan district, contradicting details he had previously shared. The discrepancies prompted the woman to investigate further and verify his background independently.
What she discovered next suggested that her experience may not have been an isolated case.
While searching social media platforms, the complainant reportedly came across profiles and posts from other women who had interacted with the same individual.
After contacting them, she uncovered a strikingly similar pattern.
According to preliminary findings, several women claimed they had met the accused through matrimonial websites, entered into serious relationships with him, and were promised marriage. Many alleged that he later sought money under various pretexts before abruptly ending contact.
Some women reportedly claimed that marriage ceremonies had even taken place before they were deceived and abandoned.
The similarities in the accounts prompted investigators to suspect a systematic pattern rather than isolated incidents.
Investigators believe the accused may have followed a carefully planned strategy to identify and approach women actively seeking marriage through online matrimonial platforms.
According to police sources, the operation relied heavily on emotional manipulation and trust-building. By presenting himself as a successful Hindu groom and discussing marriage, Rahman gained access to victims’ personal lives and financial resources.
Officials are now examining whether the same method was repeated across multiple cases over several years.
The probe is focused on gathering digital evidence, analysing financial transactions, and identifying additional victims who may have been targeted through matrimonial websites.
Based on the complaint lodged by the Naihati woman and testimonies collected during the preliminary investigation, Kolkata Police arrested Matiur Rahman on June 2, 2026.
Authorities are now examining records from matrimonial websites, social media accounts, bank transactions, mobile phones, and other digital evidence to determine the scale of the fraud.
Police have appealed to other women who may have had similar experiences to come forward and assist the investigation.
The case has once again raised concerns about the misuse of matrimonial and dating platforms by individuals using fabricated identities.
Investigators warn that fraudsters often exploit the trust associated with marriage proposals by creating convincing online profiles, exaggerating professional achievements, and manipulating victims emotionally before making financial demands.
As the investigation continues, police are attempting to establish how long the accused operated under the identity of “Manik Roy” and whether additional individuals were involved in the scheme.
For now, the arrest of Matiur Rahman has exposed what investigators describe as a potentially large-scale matrimonial fraud operation that preyed upon women seeking genuine relationships and marriage, turning trust and companionship into tools for deception and financial gain.
