Tour operator defrauds 7 in Bengaluru of over ₹15 lakh in fake Kailash Mansarovar Yatra scheme: Report

Bengaluru woman and six others defrauded of over ₹15 lakh by Hyderabad tour operator for failed Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.

Published on: Oct 9, 2024, 14:39:06 IST

By Yamini C S

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In a case of widespread fraud, a Bengaluru woman and six others were swindled out of more than ₹15 lakh by a Hyderabad-based tour operator who promised to organize a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. The accused, identified as Bharat Kumar Sharma of Gayatri Tours and Travels, has been accused of misappropriating funds after failing to deliver on the promised trip, the Deccan Herald reported.

Investigations have revealed that Sharma faces similar fraud charges in Hyderabad, and police are working to track him down. (HT File)

The scam came to light after 43-year-old Swapna Suresh filed a police complaint on October 5. According to her statement, Swapna first came into contact with Sharma in March 2023 after seeing an advertisement for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra on the 'Suman TV' YouTube channel. Interested in the package, which was initially priced at ₹2.28 lakh, she paid an advance of ₹25,000 to Sharma for the May 31 batch, the report stated.

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As the tour date neared, Swapna made additional payments, including ₹1 lakh in cash after attending a demo session. Sharma continued to provide excuses for delays, citing issues with permits from China and Tibet. By June, after being shown what appeared to be travel permits, Swapna paid the remaining balance to secure her spot in the tour. However, by August, Sharma claimed that China was not issuing visas for the trip, and when Swapna requested a refund, he became evasive, the publication noted.

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Despite promises, Swapna received only a partial refund of ₹59,500 in September, leaving ₹1.76 lakh unpaid. The FIR reveals other victims who were similarly defrauded, including one who paid ₹4.84 lakh for the tour. Investigations have revealed that Sharma faces similar fraud charges in Hyderabad, and police are working to track him down, the report added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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