₹3.85 Crore Collected Fraudulently

In a significant case of cyber deception that exploited public sentiment and religious devotion, authorities have unearthed a ₹3.85 crore scam involving the fraudulent online sale of “Ram Lalla Prasad” during the Ram Mandir consecration period. the incident, now marked as one of Uttar Pradesh's largest cybercrime recoveries, has drawn national attention to the rising misuse of religious platforms in the digital age. According to the Ayodhya Cyber Crime Unit, a fake website—khadiorganic.com—was launched just weeks before the historic Pran Pratistha ceremony held on January 22, 2024. Posing as an official portal associated with the Ram Mandir, the website offered doorstep delivery of prasad and temple memorabilia for a nominal fee. Over 6.3 lakh individuals, both domestic and international, placed orders between December 19, 2023, and January 12, 2024, resulting in a total fraudulent collection of over ₹10.49 crore, of which ₹3.85 crore was linked directly to prasad orders. the mastermind behind the scheme, Ashish Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad who claimed academic affiliation with a university in the United States, was arrested on January 13, 2024, upon his return to India. Singh is currently facing charges under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act, and the Passport Act. the investigation revealed that the suspect used advanced digital infrastructure, including UPI gateways and e-wallets, to manage and distribute the collected funds. Law enforcement officials have since facilitated the refund of approximately ₹2.15 crore to more than 3.7 lakh victims, marking it as the highest cybercrime recovery in the state to date. Efforts are ongoing to trace and recover the remaining funds. Speaking on the matter, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Grover emphasized the sensitivity of the case, stating, “the accused capitalized on the spiritual trust of millions. This crime not only violated cyber laws but deeply wounded the religious sentiments of countless devotees.” the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth KshetraTrust has reiterated that it never authorized any platform to collect funds or distribute prasad online and urged the public to exercise caution while interacting with religious services on digital platforms. This case stands as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities that accompany faith-based digital engagements. Authorities have urged citizens to verify the authenticity of religious websites and platforms, especially during major national or religious events.