A case of alleged financial fraud has emerged in Bengaluru, where a woman from Chamarajpet was cheated of ₹2.5 crore by people who said they could remove evil spirits from her home and help her earn big financial returns. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has filed a case against the accused and launched an investigation into the alleged scam involving promises of supernatural remedies and extraordinary financial gains.
Kumuda, who filed a police complaint against them, is originally from Andhra Pradesh and now lives in Bengaluru's Chamarajpet area. Her case started after the death of her son in a motorcycle accident. The accused exploited her emotional vulnerability by telling her that evil forces had entered her home and were responsible for the unfortunate incident, she said.
Kumuda was introduced to a man named Apsar Pasha, who was presented to her as a spiritual leader or “baba” through intermediaries she had met when talking about loans against her property, the police said. The accused told her that special rituals and prayers were necessary to remove the negative energies affecting her family.
First, the woman paid the accused ₹8 lakh to conduct religious rituals to gain her trust and then persuaded her to pay a large sum of money by making extraordinary promises.
According to the complaint, the accused told Kumuda that a lot of money, which was related to funds from the Reserve Bank of India, would be available soon. They claimed that ₹500 crore would be released and that immediate financial help was needed for the process. The accused said that if she gave ₹2.5 crore as a short-term loan, then she would get ₹10 crore at a later stage.
Kumuda, believing the promises made by the accused, sold her house in Chamarajpet for approximately ₹8.5 crore. From the sale, she handed over ₹2.5 crore to the accused persons, expecting a significant return on the investment.
The fraud was exposed when the promised returns failed to materialise, the complaint said. Kumuda asked for her money again and again, and the accused refused and even threatened her, the complaint said. She alleged that the suspects had threatened her with death when she demanded her money back.
Based on her complaint, the CCB has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Apsar Pasha and two alleged intermediaries named Shankar and Bharat. The investigation is ongoing into financial transactions, and evidence is being gathered while questioning those involved.
Police officials say the incident is another sign that fraudsters exploit feelings of distress, religious beliefs, and promises of instant wealth to prey on the vulnerable. And because personal tragedies, financial difficulties, or family problems set in, they are more susceptible to fraud.
In recent years, citizens have been warned to watch out for people who tell them there is a solution to everything and even tell you they can do it and get money for it. Experts warn that promises of high returns and requests for money should be treated with scepticism and verified.
The investigation is still in progress, though, and police are exploring other angles, like whether there are other victims that the same group could have targeted. It is not ruled out that a larger fraud network was in place, the officials said.
As the story develops, law enforcement agencies will be working to find out the full extent of the fraud and bring those responsible to justice. It’s a reminder of the need for financial awareness and vigilance to avoid scams that prey on trust, grief, and hope.
