Newly married woman escapes with hubby’s cash

Police said Venkatraman (53), a resident of MR Naidu Street in Villivakkam had married Ramanamma, who hailed from Andhra Pradesh, on May 2. The couple had met through a matrimonial website. Following the marriage, Ramanamma left her husband’s house on May 26 to visit relatives in her native village.

After she left the house, Venkatraman found the Rs 80,000 in cash and four sovereigns of gold jewellery kept in his bureau to be missing. Police said Venkatraman did not suspect his wife initially, even though the disappearance of the valuables coincided with her departure.

During questioning, Venkatraman told police that although he had been talking to his wife on mobile every day since her departure, he did not ask her about the theft. After a while, she stopped talking to Venkatraman. He then realised Ramanamma had conned him after she switched off her mobile and did not call back.

Police said Venkatraman had divorced his first wife Susila of 18 years because they remained a childless couple. After divorcing Susila, Venkatraman registered in a matrimonial website. Ramanamma approached Venkatraman after seeing his profile on the website.

The two had married at a temple in Villivakkam as Ramanamma told that she was an orphan.

An unsuspecting Venkatraman believed her story, agreed to take care of all expenses and married her. After the marriage, she moved into Venkatraman’s house and then escaped with cash and gold, police said.