CityweliveA self-styled astrologer accused of deceiving people by offering to eliminate “negative energy” from their lives through paid spiritual ceremonies has been apprehended by the Delhi Police in Jaipur. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Sumit Bhargav, was taken into custody following a complaint by a 28-year-old IT professional who alleged that she was defrauded of nearly ₹3 lakh.
According to Raja Banthia, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Bhargav operated an online syndicate of spiritual frauds, specifically targeting individuals going through emotional distress. “He would share astrology-related posts on social media, initiate conversations with interested individuals, and manipulate their fears to convince them to pay for extravagant but deceptive rituals,” stated DCP Banthia.
The complainant, employed in an IT firm, discovered Bhargav’s profile on a digital platform and was persuaded to consult him for spiritual assistance. He reportedly told her that her personal and career troubles
“Gradually, he pressured her into transferring close to ₹3 lakh over several transactions for rituals he claimed were being performed in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. When there were no improvements and he ceased communication, she decided to contact law enforcement,” added the officer.
An FIR was filed under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, allowing police to make arrests without a warrant. A special team was assembled and conducted raids in the Mansarovar and Vidhyadhar Nagar areas of Jaipur.
Bhargav was eventually located at his home, where he lived with his wife and two children. During questioning, he confessed that the rituals were largely superficial and designed solely to extract money. “Although he hails from a family of traditional astrologers, he leveraged this lineage to give credibility to his fraudulent schemes,” Banthia noted.
Authorities have frozen the bank account through which payments were received. The investigation is ongoing to identify other individuals who may have fallen prey to the scam.
