Daijiworld Media Network – Byndoor
Byndoor, Dec 20: Kollur Police have arrested a youth from Rajasthan for allegedly creating a fake website resembling the official portal of the renowned Sri Mookambika Temple and duping devotees by collecting money under the pretext of advance room bookings.
Police said the accused had designed a fraudulent website mimicking the temple’s official portal and collected payments from devotees by issuing fake booking receipts. The scam came to light after the Executive Officer of Sri Mookambika Temple lodged a complaint at Kollur Police Station.
Following the complaint, Kollur Police registered Crime No. 80/2025 on November 3 under Sections 318(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
Since the case involved a temple under the Muzrai Department and offences under the IT Act, a special investigation team was constituted under the guidance of Kundapura Sub-Division Deputy Superintendent of Police H.D. Kulkarni. The investigation was led by Byndoor Circle Inspector Shivakumar B and Kundapura Rural Circle CPI Santosh A. Kaikini, along with Kollur Police Station PSI Vinay M. Korlahalli and other staff.
Following a detailed probe, police traced the accused to Rajasthan and arrested Nasir Hussain (21), son of Khursheed Khan, a resident of Dakhapuri, Sarheta Post, Tijara in Alwar district, on December 19. A laptop used to carry out the fraudulent activity was also seized.
Nasir Hussain was produced before the Byndoor court on December 20 and remanded to judicial custody.
Police have urged devotees to make bookings only through the official website of Sri Mookambika Temple and remain vigilant against fraudulent online portals.