Thursday, May 19 2005 19:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Sonepat: In an incident reminiscent of Hollywood blockbuster 'Runaway Bride', a young man in Hisar found to his dismay that his would-be bride had not only ditched him but duped him of money in the bargain.

The marriage procession of Rajesh, which reached Kharkhara village in Hisar district yesterday (May 18, 2005), had to return empty-handed to Basandi village in Sonepat today (May 19, 2005) after no trace was found of his would-be bride Promila and her brother Jai Kishen.

The agitated members of the marriage party called a meeting of the village panchayat last night, only to be told that no persons by the names had ever lived in the village, family members of the groom said.

It was only then that Rajesh realised he had been duped, and had lost the money he gave to Jai Kishen at the time of his engagement ceremony on April 18, they said.