Man forcibly married minor: Police use fake FB profile to lure accused, nab him

“She said in her complaint that the accused would not feed her and would force himself on her. He also beat her,” the officer said

Police said the accused had lured the minor and taken her to a small rented accommodation in Badaun (Representational Image)

After a 17-year-old girl escaped from a 22-year-old man who forcibly married her, confined her for a year, and physically and sexually assaulted her, police pulled out all stops to trace him — but in vain. What changed things, however, was the police’s idea to make a fake Facebook profile of a girl and lure the accused to Netaji Subhash Place, from where he was arrested Monday.

According to police, the minor escaped from a rented house in Badaun and registered a complaint at Begumpur police station. For months, police teams raided the accused’s last-known locations and homes of his relatives and associates. “The accused had dumped his phone and was on the move. He did not contact his family,” an officer said.

The fake account was operated by a woman officer, and it took police 15 days to establish a rapport with the accused, following which he sought a meeting. “When he reached the meeting point, a coffee shop, our team was waiting for him,” the officer said.

Police said the accused had lured the minor and taken her to a small rented accommodation in Badaun. When the minor expressed her wish to return home, the abuse started. “She said in her complaint that the accused would not feed her and would force himself on her. He also beat her,” the officer said, adding that he would usually keep her tied up. One day in September, he forgot to tie her up — and she fled and returned to Delhi.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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