Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have arrested a 59-year-old astrologer accused of cheating a senior Income Tax Department officer of valuables worth ₹31 lakh after promising to perform rituals for career advancement and prosperity.
The accused, identified as Shekar, a native of Tamil Nadu who was residing in Bengaluru, was arrested by the Bharati Nagar police in Tamil Nadu a few days after the case was registered.
Police said the arrest was made following a complaint filed by the officer, who alleged that the astrologer had taken gold and silver ornaments under the pretext of performing rituals and later disappeared without returning them.
Officer approached astrologer for advice
According to police officials, the complainant is a senior Income Tax Department officer with 33 years of service and is currently posted in Koramangala, Bengaluru.
The officer reportedly came into contact with the accused in December 2025.
During their interaction, Shekar allegedly told the officer that he was going through a difficult phase in his life and suggested performing a special ritual to overcome his problems.
Police said the astrologer initially asked the officer to pay ₹50,000 to conduct the ritual, which the officer agreed to and paid.
Accused demanded more elaborate ritual
A few days later, Shekar allegedly informed the officer that the initial ritual had been completed but a more powerful ritual was necessary to ensure career growth, promotions and overall prosperity.
The officer reportedly declined the suggestion at first.
However, when he later returned to seek advice regarding a pending job transfer, the astrologer allegedly persuaded him again to conduct another ritual.
Gold and silver ornaments handed over
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered on March 5, the astrologer asked the officer to bring all the gold and silver ornaments from his house, claiming that they would be required for the ritual and would be returned once it was completed.
On February 20, when his family members were away, the officer collected several ornaments from his home.
Police said the valuables included approximately 194 grams of gold ornaments such as a necklace, earrings and a bracelet.
In addition, he also took around 1.3 kilograms of silver ornaments and handed them over to the astrologer.
The accused reportedly asked the officer to return the next day to collect the items after the ritual.
Accused allegedly went into hiding
When the officer later contacted Shekar to retrieve the valuables, the astrologer allegedly claimed that the ritual was still ongoing and asked him to wait.
Police said the accused continued giving similar explanations for some time.
When the officer insisted on the return of his valuables, the astrologer allegedly stopped answering phone calls and went into hiding.
Realising that he had been cheated, the officer approached the Bharati Nagar Police Station and filed a complaint.
Case registered under BNS sections
Following the complaint, police registered a case against Shekar under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case includes charges under Section 316(2) for criminal breach of trust, Section 318(4) for cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property, Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation, and Section 352 for intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of peace or another offence.
After registering the case, police launched a search for the accused and eventually traced him to Tamil Nadu, where he was arrested.
Investigation underway
Police officials said further investigation is ongoing to determine whether the accused had cheated other individuals using similar methods.
Authorities are also working to recover the valuables that were allegedly taken from the complainant.
Officials said additional details may emerge as the investigation progresses.
Conclusion
The case has highlighted the risks of financial fraud carried out under the guise of religious or astrological rituals.
Police have urged the public to remain cautious and verify claims before handing over money or valuables to individuals offering such services.