A case of fraud targeting devotees seeking darshan of the Bhasma Aarti at Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple has come to light. Police have registered a case against two individuals for defrauding a Pune woman of ₹8500.
A Pune woman was defrauded of ₹8500 under the pretext of arranging darshan of the Bhasma Aarti at Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple. Police have registered a case against two accused individuals, one of whom is reportedly an associate of a temple priest.
What is the matter?
Vidya Bhumkar from Pune, along with three other women, arrived in Ujjain on March 2nd to visit the Mahakaleshwar Temple. They sought permission for the Bhasma Aarti from Rajendra Sharma Guru, a member of the temple committee. Rajendra Guru assured them but failed to provide permission at the scheduled time.
During this time, the women met Deepak Vaishnav, a young man who claimed he could secure permission for the Bhasma Aarti for ₹8500. The women paid him, but later Rajendra Guru himself secured their permission. When the women asked Deepak for a refund, he returned only ₹4000 and refused to return the remaining amount.
Previous Fraudulent Activities at the Temple
Several cases of fraud have been reported at the Mahakaleshwar Temple, where devotees have been cheated under the pretext of securing VIP darshan and Bhasma Aarti permission. According to the police, nearly 10 employees of the temple committee and security agency have been jailed for such fraudulent activities. Meanwhile, four other accused, including two media personnel, remain at large and a reward of ₹10,000 has been announced for information leading to their arrest.
Collusion with a Priest's Associate
The police investigation revealed that Deepak Vaishnav, through Raju alias Duggar, a servant of temple priest Bablu Guru, lured people with the promise of securing Bhasma Aarti permission. The money collected from devotees was shared between them. Based on a complaint filed by Vidya Bhumkar and the temple committee, the Mahakal police registered a case of fraud against Deepak Vaishnav and Raju alias Duggar.
Police Appeal: Devotees Urged to Remain Vigilant
Following the incident, the temple administration has appealed to devotees to be wary of unauthorized individuals and not to give money to any suspicious person. The police are now searching for other accused, and further arrests are expected soon.
