In a shocking case of medical fraud, a 29-year-old software engineer in Bengaluru was allegedly cheated out of nearly ₹48 lakh by a self-proclaimed Ayurvedic 'Guruji' and an affiliated medicine shop, and now faces serious health complications, including kidney damage.
Seeking a quick remedy for sexual health issues, the techie, a resident of Jnanabarathi, fell victim to an elaborate scam that exploited his private distress and pressured him into buying exorbitantly priced, unproven herbal products.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The victim, who got married in March 2023, had initially sought professional medical help at a multispeciality hospital for his health concerns. However, on May 3, he noticed a roadside Ayurvedic tent near a law college in Ullal advertising "quick solutions for sexual problems."
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The Lure: Upon visiting the tent, the victim was introduced to a man who promised a fast remedy and arranged a meeting with "Vijay Guruji."
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The Pricey Cure: Guruji prescribed a "rare medicine" called 'Devaraj Booti,' claiming it was sourced from Haridwar and available exclusively at the Vijayalakshmi Ayurvedic Medicine Shop in Yeshwantpur. The price was astronomical: ₹1.6 lakh per gram.
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The Coercion: The fraudster insisted that payment must be made only in cash and that the victim must go alone to purchase the medicine, warning that its "potency" would be lost if he brought anyone with him.
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Escalating Purchases: The victim was systematically coerced into buying several products over time, including 15 grams of 'Bhavana Booti Thaila' at ₹76,000 per gram and an additional 18 grams of 'Devaraj Booti.' To finance these purchases, he reportedly borrowed ₹17 lakh from his wife and parents, and took a massive ₹20 lakh bank loan.
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Final Debt: He was later pressured into buying 'Devaraj Rasabooti' for ₹2.6 lakh per gram, forcing him to borrow another ₹10 lakh from a friend.
In total, the software engineer spent nearly ₹48 lakh on the unproven herbal treatments.
Health Deterioration and Police Complaint
Despite consuming the expensive regimen, the victim saw no improvement. Worse, recent medical check-ups revealed complications in one of his kidneys. Doctors have suggested the damage could be due to unsafe substances in the herbal products he was consuming.
When he confronted Vijay Guruji, the quack allegedly threatened him, warning of "severe health complications" and "treatment failure" if he did not continue to buy more medicines and discontinue the regimen.
The victim has since filed a formal complaint with the Jnanabarathi police station against "Vijay Guruji," the intermediary, and the owner of the Ayurvedic medicine shop. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including cheating, criminal breach of trust, and causing hurt by means of poison.
Authorities have confirmed efforts are underway to apprehend the accused and have ordered the removal of all similar roadside medical tents operating in the division.
