‘Puja’ scam: Astrologer on run after allegedly duping woman of 329g gold

The Byatarayanapura police are searching for an astrologer accused of swindling a Girinagar woman of 329 grams of gold jewelry worth approximately ₹40 lakh. The case was filed on September 7 under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which pertains to cheating and unduly inducing a person to surrender property or valuable security.

The suspect identified as Venkatesh, was spotted near Victoria Hospital several years ago. The woman, who sought his assistance to curb her son's alcohol consumption and smoking and to arrange a suitable marriage alliance for her daughter, eventually handed over a 50-gram gold chain for a purported puja to Goddess Chowdeshwari. Over a year, Venkatesh allegedly collected more of her gold ornaments in installments, including chains weighing 25, 26 and 30 grams, four bangles weighing 60 grams, eight earrings weighing 24 grams, four ear ornaments weighing 40 grams, two rings weighing 15 grams, two ear studs weighing 5 grams, a 30-gram bracelet, and a 25-gram Lakshmi pendant.

When the woman asked for her jewelry back on August 19 to attend a Varalakshmi puja, Venkatesh allegedly sent her a video claiming to be injured in an accident. Another person called her, falsely informing her that Venkatesh had suffered a severe head injury and was unlikely to survive. The woman's daughter suspected the video to be fake.

Upon discovering that Venkatesh's phone was switched off, the woman alerted the police, accusing him of duping her by collecting jewelry under the guise of religious rituals and failing to return it.