A middle-aged woman in Aligarh district has eloped with her daughter's fiance just a week before the wedding was to take place, police said on Wednesday.
The incident has left both families in shock, and a police search is now underway for the runaway couple.
Jitendra Kumar, the father of the bride-to-be, told reporters that his wife, Apna Devi, fled with the daughter’s bridegroom along with ₹3 lakh in cash and jewellery worth over ₹5 lakh, all of which had been saved for the upcoming wedding on April 16.
"My wife used to speak with our daughter's fiance for hours, but we never imagined it would end this way. She has ruined us," Kumar said.
Devi, who is nearly 40, lived with his family in a village under Madraak police station limits. The groom, Sushant (name changed), is a resident of a neighbouring village.
On Sunday morning, Sushant left his home after telling his father cryptically that "no one should try to contact him as he was embarking on a long journey." His concerned father contacted the bride's family, only to find that Sushant was not there, and neither was the bride's mother.
Suspecting foul play, Sushant's father filed a missing person report at Madraak police station.
{{/usCountry}}Suspecting foul play, Sushant's father filed a missing person report at Madraak police station.
{{/usCountry}}Confirming the incident, Station House Officer Arvind Kumar said, "We have received a complaint and are conducting a search to locate the couple. Further action will be taken once they are found."