139 complaints of fraud NRI marriages received from US: Minister

The US tops the list of eight countries from where complaints or cases of fraudulent NRI marriages are received, with 25 complaints received so far this year, parliament was told Wednesday.

Minister of State in the ministries of Overseas Indian Affairs and External Affairs Gen V.K. Singh (Retd) said in the Lok Sabha that the Indian missions provide assistance to the complainant in the form of financial help for legal procedures, counselling and taking necessary action as per the need and requirement of the case.

In the list circulated by the minister, covering three years from 2011-12 onward to now, the most number of complaints or cases of fraudulent NRI marriages have come from the US.

In 2011-12 it was 26, followed by 49 complaints in 2012-13, 39 in 2013-14, and 25 in the current year, with the total working out to 139 complaints.

Canada followed with a total of 22 complaints or cases over the three years, with the highest of 11 complaints filed this year so far.

Britain has 13 complaints or cases filed over the three year period, with the highest of eight complaints filed this year so far, the list shows.

The other countries from where complaints or cases have been reported are New Zealand, Germany, the Philippines, Australia and Singapore.

Singh said the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) implements the scheme for giving legal/financial assistance to Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian/foreigner husbands through the empanelled NGOs and legal organisations.

Such assistance under the MOIA's Scheme is provided through Missions/Posts in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Gulf countries.

The amount of assistance provided per case under the scheme to deserted Indian women is up to $3,000 in developed countries and $2,000 in developing countries, an official statement said.