In India, matchmaking has traditionally been handled by family members in a conventional manner. However, in recent years, new methods have emerged.

According to reports, with rapidly changing social norms, young people in India are now turning to modern private detective agencies equipped with advanced technology, rather than relying on astrologers or party planners, to investigate their prospective partners.

Bhavna Paliwal, who runs such a detective agency in New Delhi, assists individuals in finding life partners. Bhavna, 48, who founded the Tejas Detective Agency nearly two decades ago, says her business has grown significantly. Her team handles about eight cases per month.

She shared a recent case where her client wanted to verify her prospective husband’s income. “The man had claimed he earned $70,700 annually, but we discovered he actually earned only $7,070.”

Hiring a private investigator typically costs between $100 and $2,000, depending on the level of scrutiny required. Some clients want a thorough background check on their prospective partner’s family or to uncover any suspicious relationships.

Sanjay Singh, a 51-year-old investigator from a similar agency, describes this work as a “service to society.” He claims to have handled hundreds of pre-marital investigation cases this year alone.

Another investigator, Aakriti Khatri, shared an example of clients wanting to determine if their partner is secretly homosexual.

Sanjay explains that this type of investigation often involves challenges, including fabricating stories to gather information. “Our team operates in a legal and ethical grey area, but we instruct them to abide by the law and avoid unethical practices.”

Meanwhile, Aakriti has developed an app with the help of tech developers, enabling agents to upload information directly, including location, audio, and video data. She believes this approach is more secure.

Bhavna Paliwal argues that technological advancements have increased pressure on relationships. “The more technologically advanced we become, the more challenges we face in our personal lives.” However, she emphasizes that technology and detectives shouldn’t be blamed for exposing deceit. “Relationships built on lies cannot last.”