Wed Feb 05 19:34:47 IST 2025: ## Conman Defrauds Bengaluru Man of ₹64,000 in Maha Kumbha Mela Scam
**Bengaluru, February 5, 2025** – A Bengaluru resident has fallen victim to an online travel scam, losing ₹64,000 in an elaborate scheme promising a trip to the Maha Kumbha Mela in Prayagraj. Pradeep Krishnamurthy, an employee at a city-based private firm, contacted Subramanya Tours, a Coimbatore-based travel agency, after finding their advertisement online.
The accused, identified as Rakesh, the owner of Subramanya Tours, offered Krishnamurthy an all-inclusive package for ₹64,000, covering flights and accommodation. Krishnamurthy transferred the money via online payment as instructed. However, Rakesh subsequently switched off his phone, leaving Krishnamurthy unable to contact him.
Realizing he had been defrauded, Krishnamurthy filed a complaint with the Jnanabharathi police. An FIR has been registered against Rakesh under the IT Act, 2000. The police are currently investigating the case. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for online travellers to exercise extreme caution when booking trips through unfamiliar agencies.
First Piper 