Matrimonial Detectives in India: Uncovering the Truth Behind Love Matches
NEW DELHI: From an anonymous office in a New Delhi mall, matrimonial detective Bhavna Paliwal runs the rule over prospective husbands and wives – a booming industry in India, where younger generations are increasingly choosing love matches over arranged marriage.
The Rise of Matrimonial Detectives
The tradition of partners being carefully selected by the two families remains hugely popular, but in a country where social customs are changing rapidly, more and more couples are making their own matches. For some families, the first step when young lovers want to get married is not to call a priest or party planner but a sleuth like Paliwal with high-tech spy tools to investigate the prospective partner.
A Service to Society
It is discreet work. Paliwal’s office is tucked away in a city mall, with an innocuous sign board saying it houses an astrologer – a service families often use to predict an auspicious wedding date. "Sometimes my clients also don’t want people to know they are meeting a detective," she laughed. Hiring a detective can cost from US$100 to US$2,000, depending on the extent of surveillance needed. That is a small investment for families who splash out many times more on the wedding itself.
Investigations and Surveillance
Paliwal, 48, who founded her Tejas Detective Agency more than two decades ago, says business is better than ever. Her team handles around eight cases monthly. In one recent case – a client checking her prospective husband – Paliwal discovered a decimal point salary discrepancy. "The man said he earns around US$70,700 annually," Paliwal said. "We found out he was actually making US$7,070." Her team also uses surveillance tools starting at only a few dollars, including audio and video recording devices hidden in everyday items such as mosquito repellent socket devices, to more sophisticated magnetic GPS car trackers or tiny wearable cameras.
Challenges and Technology
The job is not without its challenges. Layers of security in guarded modern apartment blocks mean it is often far harder for an agent to gain access to a property than older standalone homes. Singh said detectives had to rely on their charm to tell a "cock and bull story" to enter, saying his teams tread the grey zone between "legal and illegal." But he stressed his agents operate on the right side of the law, ordering his teams to do "nothing unethical" while noting investigations often mean "somebody’s life is getting ruined." Technology is on the side of the sleuths, with Khatri using tech developers to create an app for her agents to upload records directly online – leaving nothing on agents’ phones, in case they are caught.
Conclusion
In a country where social customs are changing rapidly, matrimonial detectives like Paliwal are capitalizing on the trend of love matches over arranged marriage. With the rise of technology, surveillance tools are becoming more accessible, making it easier for detectives to uncover the truth behind love matches. While the job comes with its challenges, Paliwal insists that the benefits outweigh the risks. "It is a service to society," she said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do matrimonial detectives operate?
A: Matrimonial detectives like Paliwal use high-tech spy tools to investigate prospective partners, gathering information on their background, financial status, and social status.
Q: How much does it cost to hire a detective?
A: Hiring a detective can cost from US$100 to US$2,000, depending on the extent of surveillance needed.
Q: What kind of surveillance tools do detectives use?
A: Detectives use a range of surveillance tools, including audio and video recording devices hidden in everyday items, magnetic GPS car trackers, and tiny wearable cameras.
Q: Is the job of a matrimonial detective legal?
A: Yes, the job of a matrimonial detective is legal, as long as they operate within the boundaries of the law and do not engage in illegal activities.