CHANDIGARH, 16 February 2025—An ambulance driver lost ₹9.55 lakh after being deceived by a longtime acquaintance and two others who staged a fraudulent “tantra-mantra” ritual, promising to double his money.
Dilbag Singh, 60, a resident of Khuda Jassu village, told police that KP Balbir Singh, someone he had known for years, visited his home on February 10 along with two accomplices. The trio demonstrated what appeared to be a money-multiplication technique, converting ₹10 into ₹20 and ₹500 into ₹1,000 before his eyes.
Convinced, Singh handed over ₹3.55 lakh and followed their instructions to leave the “puja material” undisturbed at his place of worship.
Two days later, on February 12, the fraudsters returned, asking for ₹6 lakh along with flour, ghee, almonds, and a small iron box for another ritual.
Locking themselves in a room, they claimed to have completed the process and assured Singh that his money would double inside the iron box within half an hour. Before leaving, they said they would deliver some ritual items to a Gurdwara Sahib.
As soon as they fled in a white Maruti Brezza, Singh grew suspicious.
He opened the iron box and found only registers instead of cash. Realizing he had been deceived, he immediately contacted the police.
A police team arrived at the scene and recorded Singh’s statement.
A case has been registered against the three under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Authorities have launched an investigation to track down the suspects.
