KOCHI: An investigation into a habeas corpus petition filed by a Tamil Nadu native seeking the release of his detained wife has uncovered a major marriage fraud involving crores of rupees. The petition, filed by a 63-year-old man from Chennai, accused Thrissur native K.M. Joseph Steven and his accomplices of illegally detaining his wife, Shraddha (42). The truth came out when police found Shraddha yesterday in Maradu.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Shraddha had taken more than Rs 2.5 crore from the petitioner. Shraddha, who is already married to another man, allegedly trapped the Chennai native through a matrimonial website to carry out the financial fraud. She was produced before the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II and placed in safe custody. The High Court will hear the case today. Police expect more details to emerge during further questioning of the woman.

Shraddha, originally from Gwalior, met the petitioner on a matrimonial site in June 2022 and later married him. She frequently travelled to Kerala, claiming she was visiting friends, and stayed with her acquaintance Joseph Steven from Mannuthi, Thrissur. The petition states that he saw his wife at a mall in Ernakulam in April after she arrived in Kerala on January 1, and that they exchanged WhatsApp messages until May 17.

Later, a man identifying himself as lawyer G.M. Rao sent the petitioner photos of a coffin and funeral rites via WhatsApp, claiming Shraddha had died. Another woman, who introduced herself as a nun named Sophia, also informed him of her “death.” Shocked, the petitioner approached the High Court.

The court ordered police to immediately trace the woman. Observing inconsistencies in the images sent by Rao and Sophia, the Government Pleader launched an inquiry into Joseph Steven but was unable to track him down. Further investigation revealed that Joseph Steven was also using the name Lenin, who was described as Shraddha’s former husband. Eventually, police found Shraddha and Lenin at their residence in Maradu. Lenin is currently under police surveillance.