Karkala: An elderly resident of Belman in Karkala taluk has allegedly been cheated of over ₹12 lakh by a group of individuals who promised to cure his ailing wife through Ayurvedic treatment.
The complainant, Ronald Rodrigues (68), a former overseas worker, lives in Belman with his wife Rosy, who is suffering from cancer and paralysis. According to the complaint, the incident began on March 23, 2026, when he had taken his wife to a private hospital in Manipal for physiotherapy.
Contact established in Udupi
During his visit, Ronald Rodrigues came into contact with a man identified as Siddharth near the Kadiali temple in Udupi. Siddharth allegedly claimed that his own mother had recovered from a similar illness through Ayurvedic treatment.
Gaining Rodrigues’ trust, he introduced him over the phone to another individual, Madhav, who stated that the treatment would require a substantial amount of money.
Money transferred through digital payments and cash
Believing their claims, Rodrigues initially transferred money via Google Pay to a bank account reportedly held in the name of Anil Pawar, as instructed by Madhav.
Later the same day, Siddharth allegedly demanded additional money, prompting Rodrigues to withdraw ₹40,000 in cash and hand it over.
Cheques issued for large sums
Subsequently, Rodrigues was asked to visit an Ayurvedic medical shop located in a commercial building in Udupi. There, he was introduced to another person identified as Anil.
According to the complaint, Anil and Madhav convinced him that purchasing specific medicines would cure his wife’s illness. Trusting their assurances, Rodrigues issued multiple signed cheques from his HDFC Bank account.
He issued three cheques of ₹3 lakh each and another cheque of ₹1.8 lakh, totalling ₹10.8 lakh. In return, he received some medicines from the accused.
Fraud uncovered after no improvement
Despite administering the medicines, Rodrigues’ wife showed no signs of recovery. When he later attempted to contact the accused, all their phone numbers were found switched off.
Realising that he had been deceived, he approached the police and filed a complaint.
Police register case, probe underway
Based on the complaint, a case has been registered at the Karkala Town Police Station. Police have launched an investigation to trace the accused and recover the defrauded amount.
Officials have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid falling prey to unverified medical claims, especially those involving large financial transactions.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the vulnerability of individuals seeking treatment for serious illnesses and the need for greater awareness about fraudulent schemes. Authorities continue to investigate the case and have assured appropriate action against those involved.