Jaipur, Rajasthan – A total of 14 pilgrims from Jaipur were left stranded mid-journey after falling prey to a fake Amarnath pilgrimage tour organized by Sanjay Singh Naruka, a 42-year-old tour operator from “Lucky Tour and Travels”.
The group, led by complainant Kamal Kumawat, paid Rs 8,500 each for a supposed Amarnath yatra that started on July 11 and ended in distress on July 17. What was promised as a fully arranged pilgrimage turned into a nightmare, as Naruka vanished without a trace—his phone switched off and his office locked.
SHO Mahendra Singh Yadav of Shastri Nagar police said the pilgrims were left in tents, without adequate funds, and with limited network connectivity, making it extremely difficult to get help. The group had to scramble to raise money just to return home safely.
A case was filed on July 22, and with help from the Cyber Cell, police tracked Naruka through his IMEI data after a new phone activation. He was arrested on Thursday from Shiv Shakti Colony, where he was hiding out.
Police stated that Naruka, originally from Alwar district, had no plans to refund the money or respond to the victims. His arrest is a step forward in curbing travel frauds that exploit religious sentiments.
