Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, the Crime Branch of Odisha Police arrested seven persons, including the prime accused, who allegedly created fake website of ‘Niladree Bhakta Nivas’ to swindle money from gullible pilgrims looking for accommodation in Puri.
The accused, identified as Anshuman Sharma (24) (prime suspect), and Aravind Kumar (35) from Uttar Pradesh, were apprehended following an investigation triggered by a formal complaint from the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
A Crime Branch press release said that the complaint was filed after numerous reports from the public and devotees about a fake website, www.neeladribhaktanivas.in, that had been misdirecting pilgrims. The website was found to be redirecting visitors to a WhatsApp number, where they were promised accommodation at Niladri Bhakta Nivas in exchange for online payments.
The fraudulent site was reportedly associated with a savings bank account (Account No: 110217193478) at Canara Bank, where payments were being deposited.
Following a detailed investigation, the Cyber Crime Unit used technical tools to trace the hosting company of the fake website, which led them to discover that Anshuman Sharma had created the website on May 22, 2024. The site was quickly taken down after the complaint was filed.
Aravind Kumar, whose bank account was used for receiving the illicit payments, was also identified during the investigation.
In connection with the case, police have seized several items from the accused, including a laptop, mobile phones, SIM cards, documents related to the Niladri Bhakta Nivas website, as well as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, GoDaddy hosting information, and the SIM card used to register the fraudulent website.
