Bride missing, wedding venue nonexistent: Dubai-return groom’s Instagram romance ends in shock – Times of India

NEW DELHI: What was meant to be the culmination of three years of virtual romance turned into a nightmare for a Dubai-returned groom and his baraat of 150 guests.
Deepak Kumar, 24, arrived in Moga, Punjab, on the day of his wedding only to find the venue he had been promised didn’t exist, and his bride, Manpreet Kaur, was nowhere to be found.
According to a PTI report, Kumar, who had worked as a laborer in Dubai, had been communicating with Kaur on Instagram for three years. Although they had never met in person, the two had grown close through the social media platform, sharing countless conversations and pictures. Their families, too, had agreed on the wedding arrangements over the phone, and everything seemed set for the big day.
On the morning of the wedding, Deepak, along with his family and 150 guests, traveled from their village, Mandiali in Jalandhar, to the wedding location in Moga. The bride’s family had given clear instructions about the venue, “Rose Garden Palace.”
But upon arriving in Moga, the groom couldn’t find the venue and was told that someone would escort them to the venue. Hours passed with no one showing up.
By 5 pm, still no one had arrived, and after questioning locals, they were left shocked to learn that there was no such place as “Rose Garden Palace” in Moga.
Deepak and his family attempted to contact Kaur, but her phone was switched off, and they were left stranded in the middle of the town. Deepak, who had spent months planning this day, had already made significant investments: taxis for the guests, catering arrangements, and even a videographer for the ceremony.
In his complaint to the police, Deepak recounted how he had transferred Rs 50,000 to Kaur earlier in the course of their arrangements. His father, Prem Chand, added that everything, including the wedding venue and guest lists, had been arranged through phone calls. Kaur’s family, who lived in Moga, had been the ones to suggest the venue and had assured them of the wedding’s smooth execution.
After numerous attempts to reach Kaur and her family, Deepak and his family filed a police complaint.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjinder Singh, investigating the case, confirmed the complaint had been lodged and that the police were looking into the matter.