Bride Appeals for Groom's Release During Wedding

A Bhopal police station witnessed a dramatic scene as a bride, adorned in wedding attire, pleaded with officers to permit her arrested fiancé to complete their marriage rituals. The groom, identified as Akash Neelkanth, was taken into custody during his pre-wedding haldi ceremony. The bride, Seema, explained that wedding preparations were complete and guests were present, requesting a temporary release or on-site ceremony, stating her life would be ruined and she was unaware of his alleged crimes.

Police confirmed Akash Neelkanth's arrest at a marriage garden. He is reportedly the head of a gang known as "Illegal," with over 31 serious criminal cases against him, including a prior murder charge while out on bail. Investigators detailed the gang's modus operandi: using women to lure targets into compromising situations, recording evidence, and then demanding large sums of money to prevent false sexual offense accusations or the release of compromising media.

In one alleged incident, the gang trapped a priest, assaulted him, and demanded Rs 8 lakh. Following a complaint, police arrested several alleged members, including Ramji Thakur and Abhishek Upadhyay, along with a woman involved in the scheme. These suspects were remanded to police custody for two days. Authorities believe the gang comprises more than 15 individuals and are actively searching for other members of the network.