Prayagraj: In a major bust ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj Police’s cyber cell has arrested Shivanshu Bhardwaj (33) for allegedly running a fake booking website that cheated devotees of over Rs18.90 lakh.
Bhardwaj, a resident of Gauripura, New Bhagwatpura in Meerut, was arrested on Monday under the jurisdiction of Brahmpuri police station. The scam involved fraudulent cottage, tent, and hotel bookings for pilgrims attending the upcoming religious gathering.
According to DCP Kuldeep Singh Gunawat, multiple complaints had been received about fake accommodation bookings for the Maha Kumbh, prompting an investigation. Cyber police traced the fraud back to Shivanshu’s location in Meerut, where a raid led to his arrest.
The accused had cloned the official-looking website of a legitimate service provider, ‘Shivdya Camp’, inserting his own contact information and banking details. He falsely promised VIP bathing access, special darshan, and premium lodging at discounted rates.
One of the major victims was Brij Mohan Gupta, a Dubai-based Indian originally from Delhi, who was traveling with a group of 50 devotees for Mauni Amavasya. After paying in advance and even receiving photos of supposed rooms and packages, the group arrived in Prayagraj only to find no booking existed.
Shivanshu, a graduate and self-proclaimed digital creator, confessed during interrogation that he had set up the website during a visit to Prayagraj, solely for profit.
Police recovered:
1 mobile phone
4 SIM cards
5 ATM cards
Rs515 in cash
He now faces charges related to cyber fraud, impersonation, and cheating under relevant sections of the IT Act and IPC. Investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved or if more victims exist.
