Mangalore: Fake astrologer who 'resolved' people's problems lands in trouble
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Apr 7: Barke police on Saturday April 6 caught a fake astrologer who used to cheat people, especially women, by claiming that he could resolve their problems and in the bargain loot them of their gold and other valuables.
The accused is identified as Sudhakar Nayak (32) of Tenka Yedapadavu. Police recovered 132 grams of gold ornaments worth Rs 3.5 lac from him. Also, they have seized additional gold worth Rs 2.5 lac in banks, including 107 grams in Ganjimutt agricultural service co-operative bank and 25 grams in Yedavapadu agricultural service co-operative bank.
A self-proclaimed astrologer, Sudhakar Nayak would fool people claiming that he was well-known in the field of astrology, and that he could cure their maladies and drive away their problems. He even made these claims through advertisements on television channels. A few people who believed his claims would call him on phone. Women and rich people became his main targets.
Another trick he played was on brothers who lived together. It is said that he would pick brothers who got on well and lived in the same house, and first create problems between them. He would tell them that living in the same house was not good for them, or tell one brother about the 'problems' the other one could bring upon him. This way, after creating rifts between brothers, Sudhakar would volunteer to 'resolve' their troubles and in turn fleece money and gold from them.
The incident came to light when recently, two policewomen from Barke station, while on beat at Mannagudde visited a house occupied by a woman and her daughter, and enquired about their health. The woman told them that the astrologer had taken Rs 80,000 from them. The police then conducted an investigation and arrested him.
Along with the gold, the police also recovered a will, a copper urn, mobile phones, steel plates and other items he had taken from people by dubious means.
The accused was later produced in the court.
The police are yet to ascertain the full extent of his fraud and the total number of people he has hoodwinked. No one has come forward to file an official complaint yet, police said.