Hotel booking fraud busted in Puri, two fraudsters arrested for duping tourists

Puri police has busted an online racket involving fake hotel bookings and arrested two persons in this connection. The arrested duo allegedly created a bogus website of Nilachala Bhakt Niwas run by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and duped tourists by offering online booking facilities.

The accused have been identified as Chandan Singh and Goutam Sahu.

As per reports, both the accused were duping tourists through the fake website of Nilachala Bhakt Niwas for booking rooms in the Pilgrim City.

Both the accused were nabbed following a thorough investigation on the basis of the complaint filed by the SJTA administrator (Development). The complaint was lodged on November 24 last year.

Five mobile phones, 31 SIM cards, and a biometric device have been seized from the possession of the accused.

“The cyber frauds created a fake website in the name of Nilanchal Bhakta Niwas and cheated many persons by taking money towards booking of rooms. During the investigation, it was found that a module was operating to defraud tourists and the main accused was traced in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh,” said Puri additional SP Mihir Panda.

“Based on the complaint lodged on November 24, 2022, the investigation was launched and subsequently the accused were arrested,” said Panda.