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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business Standard
Ram temple prasad scam: ₹3.85 crore cyber fraud busted, mastermind held
Ayodhya Police have busted one of the biggest cyber scams in the city's history — an online fraud worth ₹3.85 crore, carried out in the name of Ram Lalla's prasad, The New Indian Express reported. Capitalising on the heightened spiritual sentiment following the consecration of Ram Lalla on January 22, 2024, the accused posed as a professor from Northeastern University in Seattle. He created a fake website that promised doorstep delivery of Ram temple prasad, duping lakhs of devotees in India and abroad. The fraud was masterminded by Ashish Singh, a native of Windsor Park, Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, currently residing in the United States. He launched the portal just weeks before the grand consecration. Between December 19, 2023, and January 12, 2024, over 630,000 devotees placed orders through the site. ALSO READ: The fake portal offered 'free delivery' of prasad, Ram temple replicas, and commemorative coins. But users were asked to pay a 'facilitation fee' of ₹51 in India and $11 from overseas. Singh used digital payment gateways including Yes Bank, Paytm, PhonePe, MobiKwik, and IDFC to process transactions. In total, he collected ₹10.49 crore — ₹3.85 crore of which came from prasad orders alone. A criminal case was filed under IPC Section 420, Section 66D of the IT Act, and Section 12(3) of the Passport Act, 1967. Ashish Singh, confident he could manage the situation, returned to India on January 13 and even travelled to Ayodhya — possibly in an attempt to cover his tracks or negotiate. However, he was arrested upon arrival by cybercrime sleuths and later identified as the mastermind behind the scam. Police seized a laptop, two iPhones, ₹13,970 in cash, and various identity and banking documents, including US and Indian ID cards, debit cards, a Washington driving licence, and a health card. According to Ayodhya Police sources, a cyber recovery operation enabled authorities to refund ₹2.15 crore to 372,520 victims. Efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining ₹1.70 crore. Calling it a scam 'built on faith', Ayodhya SSP Gaurav Grover praised the cyber cell for their swift handling of the case. 'The accused exploited people's religious sentiments. However, our team's timely action ensured that faith wasn't betrayed entirely,' he said. In recognition of their efforts, the cyber team received a reward of ₹15,000. Meanwhile, the Ayodhya Police have urged people to stay alert while making online payments, especially those connected to religious offerings. 'This case is a lesson in digital vigilance,' SSP Grover said, adding, 'Faith should never come at the cost of caution.' ALSO READ:
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Ayodhya police bust ₹3.85 crore ‘prasad' scam carried out during Ram Temple consecration
In an astonishing revelation by the Ayodhya police, a cyber scam worth ₹3.85 crore was unearthed recently, where devotees were manipulated for deception in the name of prasad for Ram Lalla. The kingpin of the fraud named Ashish Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad exploited the spiritual fervour among devotees since January 22, 2024, through a fake website offering Ram Temple prasad delivered to their doorsteps. Mr. Singh, launched a fake portal, just weeks before the 2024 consecration ceremony, collecting orders from more than six lakh domestic and international devotees between December 19, 2023, and January 12, 2024, offering free delivery of prasad, commemorative coins, temple replicas and idols of the Ram temple, charging a facilitation fee from Indian and overseas devotees. Accused arrested Through his website, the accused collected payments via multiple digital gateways, amassing ₹10.49 crore in transactions, with ₹3.85 crore of which was for prasad delivery alone, while the rest came from sales of other items. The issue was flagged by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust authorities, who noticed suspicious online activity. A police case has been registered under various sections related to cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of items, IT act etc. The accused was arrested when he returned from a foreign trip of the United States. Refund The Ayodhya Police successfully refunded ₹2.15 crore to 3,72,520 victims, marking the largest such refund in a cyber fraud case in the State. In recent weeks, the state police intensified efforts to nab cyber fraudsters, with seven interstate accused, who were involved in cyber fraud by creating online IDs through Cricbuzz and Fairplay apps and promising to make customers play games and double their money, have also been arrested in Lucknow.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Chefs in Hyderabad are getting bold with the mango
Mango season here is almost ritualistic. Dessert counters brim with mango treats, and no home-cooked meal feels complete without a plate of the fruit. But this time, the city's chefs are going beyond the familiar — leaving behind the likes of mango cheesecake and tres leches. Instead, you will find a coconut mango mousse cake, a silky Filipino-style drinking dessert called Mango Bango, sushi topped with ripe mango slices, and a mango pizza. If there can be pineapple on pizza and mango in cake, why not mango on pizza? That is the thinking behind Café Delhi Heights' bold new experiment at Inorbit Mall. Led by Chef Ashish Singh, the team reimagined the classic Margherita with a seasonal twist: fresh mango slices layered over a thin, slightly crunchy base. What began as a curious kitchen trial has become a crowd-pleaser, particularly among kids and mango lovers looking for something playful. Inspired by the Hawaiian pizza tradition, this sweet-savoury combo highlights mango's versatility, as its sweetness cuts through the saltiness of the cheese. Cloud kitchen Trio La Patisserie (TLP) has taken things a step further with Mango Bango—a drinking dessert inspired by a Filipino staple that feels like mango and cream with a tropical twist. Their version combines fresh tender coconut water jelly, sago, full-fat milk, mango, and condensed milk. It is low on sugar, with the option to add honey or a touch of sweetness if you like. TLP only prepares this eggless dessert when they source the sweetest and high-quality mangoes from their home farm. Another strictly seasonal special comes from Bougainvillea: mango sushi. Rolled in black sushi rice, it is filled with avocado, cream cheese, and tanuki (tempura flour crumbs) for crunch, and topped with mango for that sweet-savoury finish. And then there is the Mango Picante Virat Kholi's One8 Commune in Hyderabad. Tequila meets jalapeño honey, but it is the aam papad rim that brings boldness, bite, and just the right amount of nostalgia. No mango story is complete without a nod to the Thai classic — sticky rice and mango. At Taro, the Asian speciality kitchen, the dish gets a golden glow-up. Chef Dipesh Kanwar reimagines it with creamy coconut sticky rice, threads of saffron, and slices of ripe mango. The floral warmth of saffron pairs beautifully with tropical sweetness, while a drizzle of salted coconut cream and toasted sesame seeds adds contrast and crunch. If you are craving something lighter, Roastery's mango salad offers a refreshing kick. Juicy mango meets a gentle burn from finely chopped bird's eye chilli — just the thing to brighten up a grey, rainy afternoon.
India Today
11-05-2025
- India Today
Indore becomes India's first beggar-free city, says District Magistrate
Indore has become the nation's first beggar-free city, officials announced on Thursday. One year ago, there were roughly 5,000 beggars roaming the streets of the city before the administration launched a campaign, they said."Indore is now the nation's first beggar-free city," said Ashish Singh, district magistrate, in a press briefing as reported by PTI. Beggars in the city were rehabilitated by engaging them in jobs, while children who had been begging were admitted to schools, he campaign that we initiated for the eradication of begging has itself turned into a model. "It has been identified by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and also a World Bank team," Singh further said. Indore is amongst the 10 cities where the Union Ministry initiated a pilot project to eradicate and Child Development Department district program officer Ramnivas Budholia said the anti-begging campaign was initiated in February were approximately 5,000 beggars in the city, including 500 children, he added."In the first phase, we conducted an awareness campaign. Then the beggars were rehabilitated. "We also identified many beggars who used to travel from Rajasthan to Indore to beg," said giving money to beggars, or purchasing something from them has been prohibited in the city, and three FIRs have been lodged for contraventions till now, he who provides information about begging is rewarded with Rs 1,000, and several people have received the reward so far, said another official.(With PTI inputs)Trending Reel
NDTV
08-05-2025
- NDTV
Indore Has Become India's First Beggar-Free City, Says District Magistrate
Indore: Indore has become the country's first beggar-free city, officials said on Thursday. There were about 5,000 beggars on the city streets a year ago before the administration launched a campaign, they said. "Indore has become the country's first beggar-free city," district magistrate Ashish Singh told reporters Beggars in the city were rehabilitated by helping them find employment while children involved in begging were enrolled in schools, he said. "The campaign we launched for the elimination of begging has itself become a model. It has been recognised by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and also a World Bank team," Singh added. Indore is one of the 10 cities where the Union ministry has started a pilot project to eliminate begging. District program officer of the Women and Child Development Department, Ramnivas Budholia, said the campaign against begging was launched in February 2024. There were about 5,000 beggars in the city, including 500 children, he said. "In the first phase, we ran an awareness campaign. Then the beggars were rehabilitated. We also found many beggars who used to come to Indore from Rajasthan to beg," said Budholia. Begging as well as giving money to beggars or buying anything from them has been banned in the city, and so far three FIRs have been registered for violations, he said. A reward of Rs 1,000 is given to anyone providing information about begging, and many people have claimed the reward so far, said another official.
