Ever since Banke Bihari Temple started online registration for darshan in response to the pandemic, cases of unscrupulous elements defrauding people through WhatsApp groups have become rampant.
Vrindavan, 2022-05-26 (Vrindavan Today News): Vrindavan Police have arrested Narayan Maharaj, alias Chotu Thakur/Nihal Singh, in response to an FIR filed by west Mumbai resident Ritu Patel for swindling devotees on the pretext of online registration for Banke Bihari Darshan and ‘prasad’ distribution. She had made two online payments of Rs 2001 and Rs 3000 to Narayan Maharaj, both of which turned out to be fraudulent. The matter is under investigation.
Ever since Banke Bihari Temple started online registration for darshan in response to the pandemic, cases of unscrupulous elements defrauding people through WhatsApp groups have become rampant. Patel was connected to Narayan Maharaj through a WhatsApp group of which he is the admin. Everyday several people made online payments for darshan and prasad through it. Patel had also deposited Rs.2001 and Rs.3000 in his account, failing to get a response on which she lodged a complaint against him.
Patel, a resident of Vile Parle, is a regular visitor to Vrindavan. She comes here along with her mother for Thakurji’s Akshay Tritiya charan darshan every year. However, this time their trip had to be cancelled due her mother’s knee replacement surgery. “This is a serious matter. If we want to preserve people’s faith in Dham, such criminals must be punished,” she said.
Station incharge Ajay Kaushal informed that investigation is on in the matter. Meanwhile, Narayan Maharaj has been arrested.
