Bengaluru: Man duped of over Rs 1.5 Lakh by fraudster claiming divine healing powers

Team Udayavani, Dec 30, 2024, 9:35 AM IST

A case has been registered at the Byatarayanapura Police Station against a man accused of duping another by claiming to have divine powers to cure illnesses.

The accused, identified as Madesh, allegedly extorted over Rs 1.5 lakh from Manjunath under false pretenses.

According to the complaint filed by Manjunath, his father was suffering from an illness when Madesh, a friend of Manjunath’s elder brother, claimed he could cure it through divine intervention. Madesh initially took Rs 50,000 from Manjunath, promising to perform rituals for the cure. Later, he convinced Manjunath to accompany him to a temple at night, where Madesh enacted a ritual, pretending to be possessed by a deity, further gaining Manjunath’s trust.

When no improvement was seen in his father’s health, Madesh suggested that relocating to a new house might resolve the issue.
Manjunath expressed financial constraints, after which Madesh offered to assist him with a loan. He manipulated Manjunath into taking a bank loan of Rs 1 lakh in his name, promising to repay the EMIs.

However, Madesh neither repaid the loan nor helped improve Manjunath’s father’s health. Later, Madesh dismissed the matter, stating that he was recently married and could no longer invoke divine powers.

Manjunath, burdened with the unpaid EMIs and deceived by Madesh’s fraudulent claims, approached the police for help. The Byatarayanapura Police are currently searching for Madesh, who is absconding.