Puri: Religion and people's unflinching faith associated with it has become a good asset for self-styled 'service to god' trusts and organisations to dupe people of money. Allegations of duping people by promising higher returns for housing facilities has to come to fore against a Puri based religious organisation named Sai Baba Sanstha.
According to sources, the organisation has allegedly duped people around Rs 20 lakh with the help of its agents from various areas like Kanas, Brahmagiri, Kakatpur, Astarang, Krushnaprasad in Puri district.
Sources said agents of the organisation lured people to deposit Rs 5,000 as donations for ‘Sai Baba’ and promised returns of Rs 1 lakh for constructing houses under a project named Sai Kuteer. Depositors were even given certificates of bonds for the deals they made.
“I borrowed Rs 5000 by mortgaging my jewelleries. It has been two years but the organisation is yet to return the money that it promised,” a depositor said.
After some duped depositors lodged complaint in this regard at Brahmagiri police station, the cops have started investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, authorities of Sai Baba Sanstha are yet to comment on the issue.
“People allege that the organisation has cheated them during 2013 and is not returning the deposits. We have registered a complaint in this regard. After investigation truth will be revealed,” Brahmagiri IIC Pravat Mallick said.