‘Astrologer’ held on cheating charge

‘Astrologer’ held on cheating charge

A self-proclaimed astrologer who allegedly duped a woman by exploiting her personal distress and convincing her to perform elaborate rituals was arrested by the Nagole police. The police recovered five tolas gold which the man had taken from the victim.

The accused, identified as Sirgiri Sai Kumar alias Sai Raj, 33, a resident of Boduppal, was arrested a month after a complaint was lodged against him. Sai Raj ran an astrology centre under the name Sri Renuka Yellamma Thalli Jyotishalayam in Jaipuri Colony, Nagole.

The case came to light when Gundu Rajani, a 40-year-old resident of Anantha Veera Reddy Colony in Nagole filed a complaint on April 28, 2025. In her statement, she said she had approached Sai Raj in March after noticing his signboard near an auto stand. She was concerned about changes in her husband’s behaviour and sought astrological help.

According to the police, Sai Raj claimed that her husband was under the influence of another woman and warned that they would separate unless immediate spiritual interventions were carried out. He demanded ₹10,000 for the first ritual, which the complainant paid after pawning her gold ornaments. A few days later, he claimed that one of the rituals had failed and demanded an additional ₹22,000, which she transferred via online payment.

The accused continued to manipulate her through bizarre instructions, including placing aluminum-wrapped lemon under her bed, which he claimed would reveal the identity of the person influencing her husband. When the expected results did not appear, he introduced her to another person claiming to be his ‘guruji’, who insisted she undergo a three-stage ‘Vashikaran puja’, warning that she could lose her husband if she did complete the procedure.  The rituals involved gold offerings, lemon rituals in forests, and even the symbolic sacrifice of goats.

Under mounting psychological pressure and fear, the complainant handed over five tolas of her mother-in-law’s gold ornaments, believing it would be used for rituals. However, when no relief came and the demands continued, she realised she had been deceived and approached the police.

Further investigation is underway.