But this was not to be, with the bridegroom playing the villain by seeking dowry minutes before the wedding and landing behind bars. The police whisked the boy and his family, just when the girl’s angry relatives came to blows with the groom’s brigade.

While the bride-to-be is an MBBS from Amritsar, the boy is a doctor in New York. His family hails from Kaddon village in Ludhiana district.

The drama unfolded when Gurpreet Singh, the bridegroom, sought dowry from the girl’s father at the last minute. Gurbachan Singh, the bride’s father who is a bank employee, complained to the police that Gurpreet and his family put forth a demand of Rs 50 lakh last night, hours before the wedding was to take place.

“They called up and demanded Rs 50 lakh as dowry. I was shocked. There was no such demand earlier ever since the wedding arrangements and other nitty-gritty were discussed after finalising the marriage,” said an angry Gurbachan Singh.

While negotiations continued till the last minute, the well-educated bride-to-be refused to tie the nuptial bond, after she got to know about the demand. At the wedding scene, angry relatives of the girl lashed out at the groom but the police rescued him.

As high drama ensued at the lavish Chahal Palace on the outskirts of the town, the extravagant arrangements for the groom’s family were left wasted and gloom descended on the scene.