Hosapete Police have apprehended three accused of defrauding people out of lakhs of rupees through a deceptive money-multiplying ritual. The arrested are Jitendra Singh (25) from Rajasthan, currently residing in Chitradurga, and Kallahalli residents Tukka Naik (29) and Shanku Naik (30). Authorities recovered ₹35 lakh from the suspects.
At a press conference held on Sunday, Superintendent of Police Shrihari Babu B.L. explained that the accused lured victims into depositing ₹7.5 lakh for a special puja, promising returns of ₹80 lakh. Jitendra Singh, posing as a seer, and the Naik duo, acting as agents, were exposed when Kumar Naik, another resident of Kallahalli who fell victim to their scheme, filed a complaint with the Hosapete Rural Police Station.
On September 4, Tukka and Shanku Naik introduced Jitendra Singh to Kumar Naik, instructing him to place ₹7.5 lakh in a box for the ritual. After a few days, Kumar Naik, suspecting fraud, opened the box on September 7 and discovered only agarbatti packs, sandbags, and three towels. Realizing he had been deceived, Kumar Naik reported the incident to the police.
A special team led by Circle Inspector Gururaj R. Kattimani and Sub-Inspector H. Nagaratna swiftly acted on the complaint, arresting the suspects and seizing ₹35,14,740 and a cash-counting machine. Further investigation is ongoing at Jitendra Singh’s residence in Chitradurga. The main accused, Swami Naik and Venkya Naik, remain at large.
In a related case, Khadim is alleged to have defrauded over 60 villagers in Vijayanagar district of more than ₹2 crore by promising to multiply their money through a similar scheme. The accused, along with a justice-seeker from the village, have vanished. A complaint has also been lodged with the Hospet Rural Police Station by Kumar Naik, one of the victims.
Authorities continue their search for the fugitives, and the investigation is ongoing.
