Bhavna Paliwal 48 who established Tejas Detective Agency over twenty years ago reports that business is thriving more than ever.
New Delhi: From a discreet office in a mall in New Delhi matrimonial detective Bhavna Paliwal oversees investigations into potential spouses increasingly popular service in India. While arranged marriages where families traditionally choose partners remain common growing number of younger individuals are opting for love marriages often bypassing family selection.
In response to this shift some families turn to professionals like Paliwal to investigate potential partners before they commit. For many the first step when a young couple expresses a desire to marry is not to consult a priest or wedding planner but to hire a detective with advanced surveillance tools.
Sheela office worker in New Delhi shared that when her daughter expressed her desire to marry her boyfriend Sheela immediately hired Paliwal. I had a bad marriage Sheela whose name has been changed to protect her daughter privacy explained. When my daughter said she was in love i wanted to support her but not without proper checks.
Paliwal who founded her Tejas Detective Agency over 20 years ago reports that her business is flourishing. Her team handles around eight cases per month. In one recent case client wanted to investigate her prospective husband and Paliwal discovered a significant salary discrepancy. The man claimed he earned about $70,700/- annually Paliwal recounted. We found out he was actually making $7,070/-.
The work remains discreet. Paliwal office located in a city mall bears a modest sign saying it hosts an astrologe service often used by families to find auspicious wedding dates. Sometimes my clients don’t want anyone to know they’re meeting a detective she said with a laugh.
Hiring a detective costs between $100/- and $2,000/- depending on the level of surveillance required an affordable investment compared to the often hefty expenses of an Indian wedding.
While many concerned parents seek out pre marriage checks for their children prospective spouses some individuals also hire detectives to investigate their own future partners or confirm suspicions about a spouse after marriage.
Sanjay Singh 51 years old detective claims his agency has handled hundreds of pre marital investigations this year alone. It is a service to society he said.
Akriti Khatri a private investigator at Venus Detective Agency said around 25% of her cases involve pre marriage checks. There are people who want to know if the groom is actually gay she noted sharing one example.
In India where marriages often bind entire families checking the background of a potential partner includes assessing financial standing and importantly caste and religious status crucial factors in a society with deep seated caste divisions. Marriages that cross caste or religious boundaries sometimes provoke deadly consequences including honor killings.
While in the past, family members, priests or professional matchmakers handled such checks rapid urbanization and the rise of online matchmaking services have reshaped how marriage proposals are vetted. Singh noted Marriage proposals come on Tinder too.
The job of a matrimonial detective is not without challenges. Modern apartment complexes with their heightened security make it harder for investigators to gain access to properties compared to older standalone homes. Detectives sometimes have to rely on charm and fabricate stories to get in Singh explained acknowledging that his team operates in a grey area between the legal and illegal. However he emphasized that they always act ethically investigations often lead to life changing consequences.
Technology plays a key role in modern investigations. Khatri agency developed an app for agents to upload surveillance records directly online ensuring that no sensitive data is stored on their phones in case they are caught. This technology allows for faster more cost effective results.
Surveillance tools ranging from inexpensive audio and video recorders disguised as everyday items like mosquito repellent sockets to more advanced GPS trackers and tiny wearable cameras are widely available. While technology has certainly made surveillance more accessible Paliwal believes it has also increased pressure on relationships. The more high tech we become the more problems we face she said. However she firmly believes that neither the technology nor the detectives should be blamed for exposing dishonesty. These relationships wouldn’t have lasted anyway she said. No relationship can work on the basis of lies.
