Online puja app fraud: Singhadwar Police writes to Puri Srimandir admin seeking report

Singhadwar Police has written to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to submit a report on the allegations of cheating of devotees by an online platform – Utsav.

In its letter, the Singhadwar Police has sought information regarding the incident so that appropriate action can be taken if it is found that the app is fake. On Friday, Jagannath Sena staged a demonstration in front of Gundicha temple and filed a complaint with the police in connection with the alleged cheating by the online platform.

It was alleged that the online platform – Utsav has been collecting money from several devotees on a monthly basis as a donation for Srimandir and with the promise of offering puja. The online platform has allegedly duped many devotees by offering them the false opportunity of online worship in various categories.

To offer ‘Bhoga’ to the Lord atop the chariot, the online platform reportedly charged Rs 4,500 from the devotees while Rs 2,401 was charged to offer a special puja at Srimandir. Similarly, devotees were charged Rs 2151 and Rs 801 for ‘Dhwaja Bandha’ and ‘Nama and Gotra Sankalpa’ in Srimandir respectively. Moreover, the fake online platform charged Rs 11,501 for the non-existent ‘Atika Bandha’ ritual.

Sources said the concerned app is operating from West Bengal.