CRIME

Bengaluru Software Engineer Alleges ₹1.53 Crore Matrimonial Fraud; Accused Posed as Business Tycoon

The Bengaluru Live January 19, 2026 8:26 AM 3 minutes read

📘 Read this story in Kannada

Bengaluru: In a disturbing case of matrimonial fraud and financial exploitation, a Whitefield-based software engineer has lodged a police complaint alleging she was cheated of over ₹1.53 crore by a man she met on a matrimonial website, who allegedly orchestrated the scam with the active involvement of his family.

According to the FIR, the victim matched with Vijeth B., who introduced himself as Vijay Raj Gowda, a wealthy businessman running VRG Enterprises. To gain her trust, the accused claimed ownership of lorries, a stone crusher, and high-value properties in Rajajinagar and Sadashivanagar. He further claimed his assets were temporarily inaccessible due to a 2019 Enforcement Directorate case and falsely projected a net worth of ₹715 crore.

After discussions of marriage began, the accused allegedly initiated financial demands, starting with ₹15,000 in April 2024. Over the following months, he reportedly pressured the victim into raising large sums under the pretext of joint business investments. She allegedly took personal loans and borrowed money from friends, colleagues, and family members to meet his demands.

Police records indicate that nearly ₹89 lakh was collected from the victim’s friends and colleagues, while more than ₹28 lakh was taken from her parents, including her mother’s retirement savings. The accused also convinced her to pledge her personal gold jewellery to raise an additional ₹10 lakh.

The complainant reportedly transferred a total of ₹1,75,66,890 through five bank accounts across HDFC Bank, Canara Bank, ICICI Bank, and Bank of Baroda. While around ₹22.5 lakh was returned to maintain credibility, the victim claims ₹1,53,15,090 remains unpaid.

The deception deepened when the accused’s father, Bore Gowda U.J., who claimed to be a retired Tahsildar, allegedly issued company cheques as “security,” further convincing the victim of the legitimacy of the transactions.

The fraud came to light when the victim visited the accused’s residence demanding repayment. She discovered that Vijeth was already married and had a child, and that the woman previously introduced as his sister—Soumya—was in fact his wife of three years. The complainant alleges the entire family colluded to misrepresent their identities and finances.

When confronted, the accused allegedly issued death threats to the victim and her friends, prompting her to approach the police.

An FIR has been registered naming Vijeth B., his father Bore Gowda U.J., and his wife Soumya as accused. Investigators are currently tracing financial transactions and verifying the authenticity of court documents allegedly used to manipulate the victim. Further investigation is underway.