When people think of Anupam Mittal, they think of a suave entrepreneur, Shark Tank investor, and the founder of one of India’s most trusted matrimonial platforms—Shaadi.com.
But now, his name is in the middle of something he likely didn’t see coming: a cyber fraud case, where the Telangana High Court has directed him and two senior team members to face trial.
The reason? A woman lost ₹11 lakh after being introduced to a fake profile through Shaadi.com’s “verified” Select Shaadi service, and the platform allegedly failed in doing even the most basic due diligence.
Let’s break down what happened and why this isn’t just about one scam—it’s about what happens when trust meets negligence at scale.
“He Was Everything I Was Looking For”
That’s how it started. The victim, a doctor from Hyderabad, was a paid user of Select Shaadi, the premium matchmaking wing of the company that promises verified, curated matches with support from dedicated relationship managers.
She was introduced to “Harsha Cherukuri”, who claimed to be the son of a doctor based in the U.S. Educated, decent, respectful. It felt safe. The profile even had a “verified” tag on it.
They connected. Calls turned into conversations. Conversations turned into personal exchanges. Then came the ask.
The Money, the Lie, and the Threat
Harsha said his bank accounts were frozen by tax authorities, and he needed urgent help. She trusted him—after all, this wasn’t some random Tinder swipe. She had paid for a verified match.
She transferred ₹11 lakh.
But when she asked for it back, his tone changed. What came next was horrifying.
He allegedly threatened to morph and circulate her photos online unless she paid him more—another ₹10 lakh.
The Man Behind the Profile Wasn’t Harsha
He wasn’t even from the U.S.
The accused was Jogada Vamshi Krishna, a repeat offender from Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. His profile photo was lifted straight off the internet—it was a photo of an MLA from Yanam.
And this wasn’t his first time. The police later found he had over 20 similar cyber fraud cases against him across multiple states.
Where Did Shaadi.com Go Wrong?
Here’s the real issue. The woman had paid for Select Shaadi, a premium service that claimed to offer “verified” matches. A relationship manager from Shaadi.com facilitated the match. But there were no actual checks done.
No ID verification. No background check. Just a profile, a pitch, and a heartbreak.
That’s why the court is holding not just the scammer, but the platform accountable.
Anupam Mittal & Team Now Facing Trial
The Telangana High Court, after reviewing the case, ordered that:
- Anupam Mittal (Founder)
- Vignesh (Team Leader)
- Satish (Manager)
…must face trial for their role in the failure of the company to verify users and protect paid customers.
The court made it clear: if a platform offers a paid service claiming verified matches, it’s their legal responsibility to actually verify them.
And if they don’t? They can’t hide behind the “we’re just an intermediary” clause.
Why the Court’s Order Matters
Under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, platforms must:
- Verify identities.
- Act on reported abuse.
- Offer a clear grievance redressal mechanism.
- And most importantly, protect user safety.
Failing this, they lose their “safe harbour” protection under Section 79 of the IT Act. That’s exactly what’s happened here.
The Bigger Question: Is This Just the Beginning?
This case opens up a tough conversation: how many other “verified” services are failing at actual verification?
From matrimonial apps to job portals—if platforms are making money by selling “safety” or “curated” services, they can no longer shrug off responsibility when things go wrong.
This isn’t just about Shaadi.com anymore, it’s about accountability in India’s digital matchmaking industry.
