Puri: Several tourists from outside Odisha have alleged that they were cheated by near the world-famous Konark Sun Temple by vendors who sold fake cashew packets.
A tourist said that he along with several others came from Maharashtra on a visit to Odisha and went to Konark during the tour. However, they were shocked after purchasing what was presented as premium-quality cashew nuts from the outside. After opening the packets later, the visitors found that mostly peanuts were packed inside, said one tourist.
He said tourists visiting Konark were lured by vendors claiming to sell high-quality local cashews. They purchased packets priced at Rs 600 per kilogram. However, upon opening the packets later, they discovered that only 40 to 50 grams consisted of actual cashew nuts, while the rest contents were peanuts.
The packets were allegedly packed in a deceptive manner, with cashew nuts placed only on the top layer to give the impression that the entire packet contained cashews. The fraud came to light only after the packets were opened, by which time the vendors had already disappeared.
As per information, over 15 tourists from Maharashtra who visited Konark two days ago were cheated by a group of unscrupulous vendors. Due to a lack of time and travel constraints, the victims were unable to lodge a formal complaint with the police.
The incident came to light after a video showing the fraudulent practice went viral on social media, sparking outrage among netizens and raising serious questions about tourist safety and the regulation of vendors in heritage areas of the state.
