Pune: FIR Registered Over Fake Shaneshwar Devasthan Apps Cheating Devotees
Pune: FIR Registered Over Fake Shaneshwar Devasthan Apps Cheating Devotees
Pune, July 15, 2025: The Cyber Cell of Ahilyanagar District Police has filed an FIR against unidentified individuals for allegedly creating fake websites and mobile applications in the name of Shaneshwar Devasthan. These fraudulent platforms reportedly duped devotees by collecting payments under the pretext of offering VIP darshan and pooja services.
The complaint was lodged on Saturday by PSI Sudam Kakade, following multiple grievances, including one from the Shaneshwar Devasthan trust on June 4. Two additional complaints were received from private individuals who raised concerns about the scam.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that thousands of devotees may have fallen victim to these cloned platforms. The fake apps and websites closely resembled the temple’s official portals and falsely advertised services such as online pooja, abhishek, oil offerings, and VIP darshan without authorization from the temple trust.
“We have identified at least five such fake platforms and registered an FIR. A special team is investigating the matter and working to trace those responsible,” said Somnath Gharge, Superintendent of Police, Ahilyanagar.
Police stated that the accused created deceptive payment interfaces that redirected donations to private accounts. Although attempts were made to contact complainants for further legal steps, police registered the FIR proactively to prevent additional fraud.
The Shaneshwar Devasthan trust has issued a public advisory urging devotees to verify official digital links before making payments and report any suspicious sites.
A case has been filed under sections 318(4), 336(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the IT Act.
