In a bizarre incident, a 25-year-old man in India’s Uttar Pradesh state eloped with his 38-year-old would-be mother-in-law, 10 days before the wedding, leaving the family in turmoil.
The groom, Rahul, has now threatened his father-in-law with a stern message to forget about his wife after 20 years of marriage.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded in Manoharpur Kayastha village of Aligarh district, where Ms Shivani was preparing to tie the knot with Mr Rahul, a supervisor working at a private company in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand.
The wedding was set for April 16, but on April 6, Rahul and Shivani’s mother, Anita, mysteriously disappeared along with 3.5 million Indian rupees cash and jewelry.
The disappearance sent shockwaves through both families and the local community.
The would-be bride, Shivani, reportedly went into a state of emotional shock and fell ill upon learning of the betrayal.
Her family, along with Rahul’s, lodged a police complaint and began a frantic search for the missing pair.
According to relatives, the unusual relationship between Rahul and Anita may have begun nearly six months ago when Anita gifted her future son-in-law a mobile phone.
Villagers noted that Rahul frequently visited his in-laws’ home and spent extended hours in conversation with Anita.
However, no one had suspected the depth of their relationship until they vanished together.
Adding to the tension, Rahul later sent a harsh message to his father-in-law, reportedly telling him to “forget about his wife” after 20 years of marriage — a statement that has only deepened the family’s distress.
Circle Officer of Iglas, Mahesh Kumar, stated that since both individuals are consenting adults, the police cannot file a first information report (FIR) based solely on their elopement.
However, the situation has taken a legal turn as Anita’s family has accused her of absconding with jewellery and cash from their home.
“A written complaint has been submitted regarding the missing valuables,” the officer confirmed.
“While an official disappearance report has been registered, police surveillance teams have been activated to trace the couple’s whereabouts.”
