UP man, 55, elopes with son’s 22-year-old fiancée, takes away Rs 2 lakh in cash and gold 

In June, Shakeel reportedly fled to Delhi with Ayesha, telling his family he was leaving for work. He later contacted his wife to inform her that he had married Ayesha. (Representational image: Unsplash)

A 55-year-old grandfather of three from Uttar Pradesh made headlines after he eloped with his teenage son's fiancée, taking with him a significant amount of family gold and cash. The incident has left the family reeling and sparked local discussion.

Shakeel had arranged the marriage of his 15-year-old son, Aman, to 22-year-old Ayesha from a nearby village. Despite initial financial objections from his family, Shakeel pushed ahead with the engagement, NDTV reported. Ayesha was described as gentle and sweet, and Shakeel frequently visited her home under the guise of wedding preparations.

But, Shakeel's wife grew suspicious, claiming she twice witnessed intimate behaviour between her husband and Ayesha. Her concerns were reportedly met with verbal abuse and physical violence from Shakeel. She later discovered frequent video calls and intimate photos of the pair on Shakeel’s phone. With the help of her son, Aman, she gathered evidence confirming the affair, leading Aman to call off the engagement.

In June, Shakeel reportedly fled to Delhi with Ayesha, telling his family he was leaving for work. He also allegedly took over Rs 2 lakh in cash and gold from the family home. Shakeel later contacted his wife to inform her that he had married Ayesha.

The heartbroken wife expressed her anguish, stating, "Ayesha was meant to be my son’s bride, now she is my husband’s wife." Aman, the jilted son, further claimed that his grandparents were aware of the affair and even assisted in their marriage.

Local police have confirmed that no official complaint has been filed regarding the incident but stated they would take action if a family member comes forward, NDTV reported.