Kothagudem: Police arrest tout for cheating devotee

Kothagudem: A devotee was allegedly cheated by a person using the name of Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam.

The temple officials have lodged a complaint of cheating against the accused at Bhadrachalam police station while another case in this connection was also booked at Palakurthy police station in Warangal district.

According to officials, a devotee, named Sada Vijay Kumar of Warangal, called up a phone number listed in a Google search page to enquire as how he could send money for performing puja in the temple.

Following the instructions given to him, Vijay Kumar credited Rs 516 into an UPI account number given by the person, he contacted. After the amount credited, the devotee came to know that the account belongs to an individual, called Jarpula Srikanth of Palakurthy.

Vijay Kumar was shocked and immediately contacted the temple officials using another contact number and informed about the development. The temple EO G Narsimhulu lodged a complaint with Bhadrachalam police against the accused, Srikanth for using the temple's name to cheat the devotee.

Victim Vijay Kumar also lodged a complaint at Palakurthy police station and the accused Srikanth was taken into custody. Investigation into the matter is going on.

Online sale of puja tickets is being done only through m-Seva and T App Folio, the EO informed.