BENGALURU, 10 MARCH

A 35-year-old man has been arrested by the Govindaraja Nagar police for allegedly defrauding more than 100 individuals out of approximately Rs 70 lakh by offering bogus Kumbh Mela tour packages.

The accused, named Raghavendra Rao, a resident of GKW Layout, operated a fraudulent travel agency under the title Panchajanya Tours and Travels.

According to police reports, Rao extensively marketed his Kumbh Mela Tour Package across social media platforms, including Facebook, promoting a week-long pilgrimage covering Ayodhya, Kashi, and Prayagraj for Rs 49,000 per person by air. Enticed by the appealing offer, numerous individuals booked the tour and paid the advance fee.

To bolster his credibility, the fraudster had previously taken a small group to the Maha Kumbh Mela, capturing photos and videos from the pilgrimage which he later used to endorse his tour packages, thereby convincing potential customers of the legitimacy of his services.

However, after amassing advance payments from over 100 individuals, Raghavendra allegedly cancelled the majority of the trips and began avoiding calls from his clients. When victims realised they had been scammed, at least 21 approached the Govindaraja Nagar police and lodged complaints. Investigations revealed that Raghavendra had swindled a total of Rs 70 lakh.

In response to the complaints, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and apprehended Raghavendra, who is currently being interrogated to uncover more details about the scam, with the expectation of additional victims coming forward.

The police have urged the public to exercise caution when booking tour packages online and to verify the legitimacy of travel agencies before making payments. Further investigations are ongoing.