Inter-State Gang, 'Selling' Girls For Rs 1.5 Lakhs, Busted In Lucknow; 3 Arrested
Inter-State Gang, 'Selling' Girls For Rs 1.5 Lakhs, Busted In Lucknow; 3 Arrested Curated By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 15:01 IST According to the
Inter-State Gang, 'Selling' Girls For Rs 1.5 Lakhs, Busted In Lucknow; 3 Arrested Curated By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 15:01 IST According to the police, the gang specifically targeted vulnerable girls, including those who had lost their parents or belonged to financially weak families. Representative Image The Lucknow Police have busted an inter-state gang that allegedly lured minor girls on the pretext of helping them and then “sold" them for marriage in Rajasthan, leading to the arrest of three people and the apprehension of a juvenile, officials said on Thursday. According to the police, the gang specifically targeted vulnerable girls, including those who had lost their parents or belonged to financially weak families. The accused allegedly sent the girls’ photographs to their associates in Rajasthan, where marriages were arranged in exchange for money. DCP (Lucknow South) Amit Kumar Anand said the case came to light during the investigation into the disappearance of two minor girls, aged 16 and 12, from Ganihar village under Mohanlalganj police station limits on May 12. The girls’ grandmother had lodged a complaint, alleging that they were taken away by a juvenile relative and his associate, Priya Patel, a resident of Raebareli, on the pretext of visiting their mother.
Following the complaint, an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and four police teams, including one in plain clothes, were formed to trace the girls, the DCP said. Police examined around 150 CCTV camera recordings and used both technical and manual surveillance methods, even though the victims’ mobile phones were switched off, he added. The two girls were eventually rescued safely on May 18. During the subsequent investigation and after recording the statements of the girls, police found that they had been taken to Kota district in Rajasthan with the intention of selling them for marriage. The accused were identified as Anurag Yadav (25), Mohammad Akhtar (32) and Priya Patel alias Sheila (23). They were arrested near Atroli crossing on June 3, while the juvenile was also apprehended, officials said. Police said Priya told investigators that she met a woman named Sonam, a resident of Kota, during a wedding in Raebareli in 2020. Sonam allegedly told her that good-looking girls, even those from poor families, could be married off in Rajasthan for money, and that Priya would be paid for arranging such marriages.
Priya had been living with Anurag in a rented accommodation in Raebareli for about two years. Along with Mohammad Akhtar, they allegedly scouted for girls who were financially vulnerable or lacked parental support, assuming their families would not lodge complaints, police said. The gang members allegedly befriended such girls, luring them with promises of outings and new clothes before taking them away. Initially, the girls were brought to Raebareli, where they were given new clothes, and their photographs were sent via WhatsApp to Sonam and her husband, Bhupendra Chaudhary, in Kota, officials said. Once the photographs were shared, the accused allegedly negotiated payments with the Rajasthan-based couple. Priya told police that she received between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh for arranging each girl’s marriage. Police further said the accused had earlier allegedly sent two sisters from Raebareli to Sonam and Bhupendra for marriage. In the present case, the two minors were allegedly taken with the help of the juvenile relative of the victims. Priya had convinced the girls that she would take them to meet their mother, who had been away for several years. The accused allegedly first took the girls to Raebareli and later planned to send them to Kota after receiving instructions from their associates, officials said.
Police also recovered two four-wheelers that were allegedly used in the crime. Investigations are under way to ascertain the involvement of other individuals, including the Rajasthan-based associates, they added. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers,... Read More First Published: June 05, 2026, 15:01 IST News india Inter-State Gang, 'Selling' Girls For Rs 1.5 Lakhs, Busted In Lucknow; 3 Arrested Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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