The Ernakulam central police on Tuesday arrested an Armyman on charges of marriage fraud.
Rajeev Sadanandan, 43, Kotta, Karakkad, Chengannoor, was arrested from a hotel here for marrying a woman by hiding his previous marriage details.
He is an employee of the digital mapping section of the Army in Bangalore. According to police, Rajeev is married and has two children. The police said on seeing the matrimonial advertisement of the complainant, Rajeev contacted her sister over the telephone giving a false name ‘Sreekumar’ and said he was residing at the Army Quarters in Bangalore.
Both parties exchanged photographs and the woman came from Riyadh on June 20, 2012. The engagement was held at her residence on August 10, following which she left for Riyad. The marriage was fixed on May 26 at Chottanikkara temple. In the meantime, Rajeev asked `75,000 for marriage expenses, which the woman transferred to his account.
After the marriage, the woman left for her house and Rajeev went to the hotel room. Both were supposed to attend the reception party at 4.30 pm in Ernakulam. Although the woman and her relatives reached the auditorium on time, Rajeev and his relatives were not to be seen. They found him drinking with his friends at the hotel and he reached for reception at 5.20 pm. He misbehaved with his wife during the party and insisted her to come with him to the hotel room. The relatives later took the woman home and registered a case against Rajeev and three others. Rajeev was taken into custody from a hotel room in Ernakulam and upon inquiry, it was revealed that he is married and has two children. He will be presented to the court on Wednesday.
The investigation team comprises Ernakulam Assistant Police Commissioner T S Joseph, Central CI Francis Shelby, S I Ananthlal, Additional SI Yacob, civil police officials Xavier, Shaji and Arunkumar.
