Kanpur’s ‘Con Bride’ Who Duped 12 Men, Extorted Rs 8 Crore, Finally Lands In Police Net

Four weddings. Twelve men conned. More than Rs 8 crore routed through 10 bank accounts. Behind these staggering numbers stands one woman—Divyanshi Chaudhary—whose carefully crafted persona as an ideal bride masked a multi-layered extortion racket operating across Kanpur, Meerut and Bulandshahr.

Kanpur Police on Monday arrested the 30-year-old, exposing what investigators describe as one of the most sophisticated romance-and-blackmail syndicates they have encountered in recent years.

Soft-spoken, neatly dressed and claiming to be preparing for B.Ed and CTET, Divyanshi was presented in local networks as the “ideal match”—educated, cultured and family-oriented. Families trusted her, and men saw her as a life partner. But behind the facade, police

say, she ran a well-calculated operation that began with emotional manipulation and ended with fabricated rape cases aimed at extorting large sums of money.

A senior investigator involved in the probe said, “Her pattern was extremely consistent. She first won a man’s trust, then built intimacy, followed by threats of a rape case. Most of the victims panicked and agreed to settlements.”

Bank Managers, Policemen Among Victims

Divyanshi had previously married two bank managers. In both cases, she later filed rape complaints, only to withdraw or turn hostile during trial, leading to out-of-court settlements. Police say she repeated the same method with government employees, including policemen, relying on their fear of departmental action and reputational damage.

Her network widened as she entered relationships with local officers and junior staff in Meerut, some of whom, investigators claim, later became complicit in her operations. A cyber unit officer said, “The money trail led us to several police personnel who had received large transfers from her accounts.” Investigators suspect these officers either benefitted from or facilitated the extortion attempts.

The Complaint That Cracked The Case

The racket unravelled only after sub-inspector Aditya Kumar Lodhaw, posted at Kanpur’s Gwaltoli police station, approached senior officials. Aditya, a 2019-batch officer from Bulandshahr, had married Divyanshi on February 17, 2024, in a ceremony arranged by relatives. She was introduced as a suitable match living in Mavana, Meerut.

Initially, nothing seemed unusual. But soon after the wedding, she stopped staying at Aditya’s home, citing exam preparations. She frequently demanded money online and, curiously, deleted all UPI applications from her phone each time she visited.

Aditya recalls, “Whenever I asked why she removed Google Pay or PhonePe, she avoided the question. When I was on duty, she asked for money urgently. Things didn’t add up.”

Four months later, while on leave, he checked her phone, redownloaded the UPI apps and found massive transfers. “More than 10 accounts had crore-level transactions. I was shocked,” he said. When confronted, she allegedly created a scene, left the house and soon initiated counter-allegations.

The harassment escalated to such an extent that Aditya attempted suicide twice.

On November 25, Divyanshi appeared at Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar’s office, accusing Aditya of siphoning off Rs 14.50 lakh and maintaining illicit relationships with multiple women. She alleged that he trapped women on social media and blackmailed them using photos and videos.

Her dramatic appearance forced officials to initiate an internal inquiry. However, during the initial mediation attempts, Divyanshi allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore for a “compromise”. This, police say, raised immediate suspicion.

A senior officer said, “The demand for such a huge amount during reconciliation efforts was a major red flag. It triggered deeper investigation.”

Evidence and A Network of Accomplices

As the inquiry widened, Aditya submitted hundreds of documents, chats, bank records and screenshots demonstrating that Divyanshi was part of a coordinated ring. Funds were circulated through nearly a dozen bank accounts, many of which reflected incoming transfers from police officials posted in Meerut.

Aditya stated, “Several officers were working directly for her. After the commissioner’s transfer, some even came to Kanpur to influence the inquiry.”

A retired Circle Officer and a radio operator posted at ADG Meerut’s office reportedly travelled to Kanpur to lobby for her. Police are now examining whether these officers were blackmailed, bribed or willingly assisting her.

Investigators say Divyanshi had earlier filed rape complaints against at least three government employees. All cases ended in settlements. She also lodged multiple FIRs against other men—most of which now have final reports, indicating the allegations could not be substantiated.

Another officer probing the case said, “She weaponised the law. Section 376 became her tool for extortion. She knows the fear men have of such allegations.”

Following the compilation of financial trails, digital evidence and testimonies, Kanpur Police arrested Divyanshi on Monday. More arrests are expected as the investigation into her alleged accomplices, especially police personnel, widens.

A senior official said: “This is not an isolated fraud. This is a structured, well-coordinated extortion racket. More names are likely to surface as the probe progresses.”