BENGALURU: A 50-year-old astrologer has been arrested for allegedly cheating a police constable of over Rs 5 lakh on the pretext of curing her health issues through various rituals.
TOI first reported the case in its May 14 edition. At the time, officials had only said the victim was from a police family. On Friday, they confirmed she is a serving constable.
The accused, Hemanth Bhat Janardhan, was nabbed in Kalaburagi after the 33-year-old constable complained. Her identity remains confidential as she continues to deal with health issues and the alleged fraud's trauma.
DCP (southeast) Sarah Fathima confirmed the arrest and urged any other victims to contact Adugodi police.
A senior officer said Janardhan initially promised to return the money, but delayed appearing before the authorities, prompting his arrest in Kalaburagi. He belongs to a family with a three-generation history in astrology and and has a large local following.
During questioning, Janardhan claimed he had informed the victim that his intervention could only cure "50% of her issues" and that she should seek professional medical treatment for the rest.
He has been granted bail and issued a notice. Police said the accused and victim are now discussing a settlement, subject to the astrologer returning the money.
How he pulled it off
As per the complaint, the constable, who stayed in Adugodi police quarters from Dec 2023 to Dec 2024, suffered from indigestion and limb swelling. A friend who saw Janardhan's TV advertisement introduced her to him.
In Dec 2023, after viewing her photo and horoscope, Janardhan said around 15 spirits were behind her health issues and without his treatment, the constable would suffer serious deterioration.
The woman sent him Rs 4.2 lakh digitally and handed over Rs 1 lakh in cash. In Sept 2024, Janardhan held a "special healing session" in a Koramangala hotel, where he cut lemons, burned incense, beat her with a peacock-feather broom, and pulled her hair while chanting, "Soul, go away." He also took Rs 65,000 each from two of her friends for similar rituals.
When the victim saw no improvement and asked for a refund, Janardhan stopped responding. Adugodi police subsequently registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 318 for cheating.
TOI first reported the case in its May 14 edition. At the time, officials had only said the victim was from a police family. On Friday, they confirmed she is a serving constable.
The accused, Hemanth Bhat Janardhan, was nabbed in Kalaburagi after the 33-year-old constable complained. Her identity remains confidential as she continues to deal with health issues and the alleged fraud's trauma.
DCP (southeast) Sarah Fathima confirmed the arrest and urged any other victims to contact Adugodi police.
A senior officer said Janardhan initially promised to return the money, but delayed appearing before the authorities, prompting his arrest in Kalaburagi. He belongs to a family with a three-generation history in astrology and and has a large local following.
During questioning, Janardhan claimed he had informed the victim that his intervention could only cure "50% of her issues" and that she should seek professional medical treatment for the rest.
He has been granted bail and issued a notice. Police said the accused and victim are now discussing a settlement, subject to the astrologer returning the money.
How he pulled it off
As per the complaint, the constable, who stayed in Adugodi police quarters from Dec 2023 to Dec 2024, suffered from indigestion and limb swelling. A friend who saw Janardhan's TV advertisement introduced her to him.
In Dec 2023, after viewing her photo and horoscope, Janardhan said around 15 spirits were behind her health issues and without his treatment, the constable would suffer serious deterioration.
The woman sent him Rs 4.2 lakh digitally and handed over Rs 1 lakh in cash. In Sept 2024, Janardhan held a "special healing session" in a Koramangala hotel, where he cut lemons, burned incense, beat her with a peacock-feather broom, and pulled her hair while chanting, "Soul, go away." He also took Rs 65,000 each from two of her friends for similar rituals.
When the victim saw no improvement and asked for a refund, Janardhan stopped responding. Adugodi police subsequently registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 318 for cheating.
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