Swati Mukund shared a video accusing BharatMatrimony of using her photo in a fake profile. (imagesource: @swatimukund/instagram)
In a recent controversy, Bharat Matrimony, one of India’s top matrimonial platforms, came under fire after a woman, Swati Mukund, accused the platform of using her image in a fraudulent profile. The profile allegedly suggested she had found a partner through Bharat Matrimony, a claim she says is completely false. Mukund’s criticism of the platform’s profile verification process has led the company to issue an official response to clarify the incident.
Bharat Matrimony’s Clarification and Response
Bharat Matrimony CEO, Murugavel Janakiraman, explained the situation in a statement to NDTV. He acknowledged that the disputed profile was mistakenly thought to belong to EliteMatrimony, Bharat Matrimony’s exclusive matchmaking service. However, it was actually created on another service within the Bharat Matrimony network. Janakiraman further clarified that the platform allows family members, such as parents or relatives, to create profiles on behalf of others—a feature intended to support family involvement in the matchmaking process. Notably, around 25% of Bharat Matrimony’s users create profiles through third parties.
Janakiraman also addressed the issue of misuse, noting that while this feature is designed to facilitate the matchmaking process, it sometimes leads to incidents like the misuse of public photos in fake profiles. “There isn’t a foolproof way to completely prevent it,” he stated, emphasizing that the problem of fake profiles is a challenge faced by the entire industry.
The Incident: How It Unfolded
The controversy gained traction after Mukund posted a video on Instagram on October 30, where she alleged that Bharat Matrimony had used her images without permission and falsely claimed she had met her spouse through the platform. The profile in question reportedly belonged to someone named Nithya Raja Sekar from Chennai and was listed under Bharat Matrimony’s premium subscription service, which is marketed as offering enhanced profile verification for a safer experience.
In her video, Mukund cautioned users to remain vigilant, especially on premium matchmaking platforms, and criticized the company’s oversight.
Bharat Matrimony’s Apology and Investigation
In response to Mukund’s complaint, Bharat Matrimony issued a public apology, stating: “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. We have suspended this profile and are conducting a thorough investigation to understand how it was published.”
This incident has sparked an industry-wide conversation about the importance of rigorous profile verification processes in online matchmaking, highlighting the growing concerns over privacy and authenticity on digital platforms.
