Delhi Police have arrested 35-year-old Sumit Bhargav from Jaipur for allegedly cheating people by promising to remove “negative energy” through paid spiritual rituals.
The case came to light when a 28-year-old IT analyst complained that Bhargav duped her of nearly Rs 3 lakh. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia, Bhargav ran an online network targeting emotionally vulnerable individuals by exploiting their insecurities via social media astrology content.
Bhargav convinced the victim that her personal and professional difficulties were caused by negative energy and that elaborate rituals performed in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, would resolve them. Over several transactions, she transferred about Rs 3 lakh, but when no results appeared and Bhargav ceased communication, she approached the police.
A case was registered under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, allowing police arrest without a warrant. Police raids in Jaipur’s Mansarovar and Vidhyadhar Nagar areas led to Bhargav’s arrest.
During interrogation, Bhargav admitted the rituals were mostly performative and aimed at extracting money. Coming from a family of traditional astrologers, he used this background to lend credibility to his fraudulent operation.
Authorities have frozen the bank accounts used to collect payments. Investigations continue to trace more victims connected to this spiritual scam racket.
