Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested two persons from Rajasthan for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated online hotel booking scam targeting pilgrims heading to the pilgrim town of Puri.
The accused have been identified as Aamir Khan (24) of Alwar and Yusuf (27) of Bharatpur. The two had created a fraudulent website named www.neeladribhaktanivas.in along with a fake contact number to lure unsuspecting travellers into booking accommodation at Neeladri Bhakta Niwas in Puri.
Victims were directed to mule bank accounts to transfer funds, completely unbeknownst to the actual hotel authorities, the Crime Branch said in a press release.
The Crime Branch launched an investigation following complaint by the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and its team traced the digital evidence and transaction trails to Rajasthan. The accused were presented at the Govindgarh Court and brought to Odisha on transit remand. A third conspirator had already been nabbed from Agra earlier.
The case is registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, with further inquiry underway.
The authorities have issued a caution to the public to avoid booking through unverified sources and to report cyber frauds immediately via helpline number 1930 or the nearest police station.
