Govt plans amendment in CrPC and passport laws to save girls from con NRI bridegrooms

Ministry of External Affairs and Women and Child Development Ministry have prepared a proposal to nab such bridegroom who cheat upon Indian girls and flee to foreign countries beyond the reach of law. The government is not only making change in CrPC but also in the passport laws.

Sources said that this was being done to put a check on swindle bridegrooms. He felt that bringing such people to the legal ambit was the only solution to this problem. However, the government is also working on other options like spreading awareness and providing information about other safeguards. There has been a major policy shift in the approach of the government.

Sources said that proposal has this line that if summon is put up on the website of External Affairs ministry it will be considered as received. Three such notices will be put and if still the concerned person does not appear before the law he will be declared absconding. As per the proposal there is a provision of confiscating passport. However, sources said that this cannot be taken further unless there is a consensus on it. Once there is an unanimity, this will be sent to cabinet and then will have to be passed from Parliament.

A senior government government official informed that a meeting of the officials from law ministry, external affairs mionisty and Women and Child Development ministry took place on May 7. Sources said that the government approach is changing as they feel that change in law is not the only solution to deal with con NRI husbands. The senior official said that the focus of the government is not just change in approach but some other options are also being explored.

The officer said that a big issue comes up that NRI bridegroom marries in India and disappears with the dowry money leaving his wife behind in India. He said that if people are aware and enquire about such people before entering into matrimony they could be saved from being cheated. As per the senior official still if any girl is in such a trap she can be helped under even the present law.