2 held from UP for duping visitors with fake Puri shrine accommodation sites | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: The state crime branch on Monday arrested two men, including an IT professional, from Uttar Pradesh for duping tourists through a fake website that impersonated Puri Jagannath Temple’s guest house facilities.
The accused were identified as Anshuman Sharma (24), an IT professional from Agra, and his associate Aravinda Kumar (35) from Pratapgarh in UP.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, had lodged a complaint with the state crime branch in Feb this year, requesting action against deceptive online platforms that swindled pilgrims attempting to book rooms at the temple’s accommodation facilities. Several devotees were deceived by the fraudulent websites, losing money while trying to secure lodging near the temple.
The estimated fraud amount could be about Rs 10 lakh, although precise figures are still being determined.
Director general (crime branch) Vinaytosh Mishra said, “Sharma had created a fake website on May 22, 2024. He shut the website a few months ago. His associate Kumar’s bank account was used to receive money from duped devotees.”
During investigation, the crime branch found that Sharma created 15 fake websites of various companies, organisations and offices of different states.
Temple authorities have specified that bookings are valid only through the authorised website and official counters, urging visitors to verify booking platforms before transferring money.
The SJTA directly manages accommodation facilities including that of Nilachal Bhakta and Yatri Niwas, Shree Gundicha Bhakta Niwas, Neeladri Bhakta Niwas and Purushottam Bhakta Niwas in Puri.
The SJTA had filed multiple complaints with Puri police in the past. Due to interstate cyber fraud involvement, they lodged a fresh complaint with crime branch in Feb.
“We advise pilgrims to report any suspicious booking portals. Last year, we held a meeting with some private hoteliers, who, too, came across fraudulent booking websites,” a senior police officer said.
The temple administration plans to strengthen its online booking system with enhanced security features and launch an awareness campaign about safe booking practices. “We are flashing an awareness message prominently on our website,” an SJTA official said.
The accused were identified as Anshuman Sharma (24), an IT professional from Agra, and his associate Aravinda Kumar (35) from Pratapgarh in UP.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, had lodged a complaint with the state crime branch in Feb this year, requesting action against deceptive online platforms that swindled pilgrims attempting to book rooms at the temple’s accommodation facilities. Several devotees were deceived by the fraudulent websites, losing money while trying to secure lodging near the temple.
The estimated fraud amount could be about Rs 10 lakh, although precise figures are still being determined.
Director general (crime branch) Vinaytosh Mishra said, “Sharma had created a fake website on May 22, 2024. He shut the website a few months ago. His associate Kumar’s bank account was used to receive money from duped devotees.”
During investigation, the crime branch found that Sharma created 15 fake websites of various companies, organisations and offices of different states.
Temple authorities have specified that bookings are valid only through the authorised website and official counters, urging visitors to verify booking platforms before transferring money.
The SJTA directly manages accommodation facilities including that of Nilachal Bhakta and Yatri Niwas, Shree Gundicha Bhakta Niwas, Neeladri Bhakta Niwas and Purushottam Bhakta Niwas in Puri.
The SJTA had filed multiple complaints with Puri police in the past. Due to interstate cyber fraud involvement, they lodged a fresh complaint with crime branch in Feb.
“We advise pilgrims to report any suspicious booking portals. Last year, we held a meeting with some private hoteliers, who, too, came across fraudulent booking websites,” a senior police officer said.
The temple administration plans to strengthen its online booking system with enhanced security features and launch an awareness campaign about safe booking practices. “We are flashing an awareness message prominently on our website,” an SJTA official said.
