A matrimony meeting in Kerala’s Idukki district turned into a dramatic gold chain theft and high-speed police chase, leaving residents stunned. The incident involved a 25-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu, living in Thodupuzha, who had registered on a Tamil matrimonial site seeking a second marriage. She connected with a man identifying himself as Abhishek A B, a “doctor” from Bengaluru, and after six days of online chats, they decided to meet in person on August 5 at the Thodupuzha private bus stand.

During the meeting, the man made a romantic gesture by offering to add a locket to her gold chain. However, instead of returning the chain, he wore it himself and handed her a fake imitation chain. He later disappeared from a nearby textile shop where he had taken her under the pretext of buying a saree.

Realizing the fraud, the woman lodged a police complaint. Investigations revealed that the so-called doctor was actually 30-year-old Karthikraj from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, a serial fraudster with six similar cases. His modus operandi involved targeting widows and divorcees on matrimonial sites, charming them, and stealing their gold ornaments.

The arrest of Karthikraj was as dramatic as the crime itself. When a police team led by SI Ajeesh K John surrounded his house, he fled in a car, triggering a 50-kilometer chase that ended when his vehicle crashed into a tree. One police officer sustained injuries during the capture.

Adding another twist, a woman living with Karthikraj claimed she had no idea about his criminal activities, believing he was a bank employee. The accused was produced before the Muttom court on Thursday, and police are investigating his connections to similar matrimonial scams in other states.