A woman who supposedly married gullible men and then fled with their money and gold, tested positive for HIV while imprisoned after she was apprehended by Uttar Pradesh police. Along with six other inmates, she was a member of a gang that operated in the state and its neighbour, Uttarakhand, according to authorities.

Jail superintendent Sitaram Sharma stated that attempts are being made in Muzaffarnagar and other parts of Uttar Pradesh to track down men she had physical contact with, according to a Times of India report.

“Once in jail, her medical examination was conducted at the district hospital where her HIV-positive status was confirmed. Ever since, her ART has been going on,” Sharma was quoted as saying.

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According to the report, three men she was with, tested positive for HIV, and this was confirmed by Uttarakhand health officials. These tests were carried out by the Udham Singh Nagar health department in association with an NGO. These males who have contracted the infection are also receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and their relatives are also undergoing testing.

The woman, who is in her 20s, was a member of a gang that specialised in setting up marriages between locals and visitors, police told TOI. They added that in order to raise suspicions, she would masquerade as the bride and other gang members would adopt her family's role.

Following several reports of cheating incidents from Uttarakhand and areas of Uttar Pradesh, police opened an investigation and detained seven gang members, including the woman and her mother. The three males from Uttarakhand were among the "five marriages" the woman claimed to have had, according to the police. Police believe there may be more cases like this.