Bengaluru Con Artist Arrested for Deceiving Temple Priests

In a startling incident from Bengaluru, a con artist posing as a wealthy businessman was arrested for defrauding temple priests. By gaining their trust through generous donations and false pretenses, he managed to steal jewelry worth ₹15 lakh. The police have recovered a significant amount of stolen goods and are investigating further to uncover additional crimes linked to the suspect. This case highlights the cunning tactics employed by fraudsters and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat such deceitful activities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 21, 2026, 07:37 IST

Fraudulent Activities in Bengaluru

A shocking case of fraud disguised as devotion has emerged from Bengaluru, Karnataka. The Rajajinagar police have apprehended a cunning con artist who posed as a wealthy businessman to gain the trust of temple priests, only to abscond with their families' jewelry. Authorities recovered jewelry valued at approximately ₹15 lakh from the accused, identified as Praveen Bhatt.

Praveen Bhatt employed a highly deceptive strategy. He frequented renowned temples across various neighborhoods, presenting himself as a prosperous entrepreneur. To win the priests' confidence, he would often conduct special rituals and generously donate thousands of rupees to the donation box, ensuring no one suspected him. He developed familial ties with the priests.

Pretext of a New Shop's Inauguration

Once the priests fully trusted him, Praveen would initiate his real scheme. He fabricated a story about opening a new shop, claiming he needed the priests' family members to attend the inauguration for blessings as a 'godfather'.

Due to their busy schedules, priests would often send their wives or female relatives with him. The accused would cleverly suggest that wearing jewelry was unsafe for the journey, asking them to hand over their valuables for safekeeping, promising to return them later. As soon as the women complied, he would abandon them mid-route and flee.

Jewelry Recovered and Multiple Cases Registered

Investigations by the Rajajinagar police revealed that Praveen has over five fraud cases registered against him in areas such as Hebbal, Ramamurthynagar, City Market, and CK Achukattu. The police seized 116 grams of gold and 409 grams of silver from him. Currently, they are interrogating the suspect to uncover any additional potential crimes.