Fake website: Devotees duped on pretext of booking room online for SGPC-run Saragarhi sarai

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 19

Two devotees who visited the holy city to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple were defrauded by swindlers on the pretext of online booking at the Saragarhi Niwas located on the Heritage Street.

The sarai is being run by the Shiormani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).

The incident came to light on Wednesday, when two devotees came and informed the staff about their bookings. The staff as well as the victims were shocked to learn that there were no booking on their names, while they had only payment receipts.

Golden Temple manager Sulkhan Singh said Sanjay Arora of Delhi and Shival Singla of Haryana came to Saragarhi Niwas on Wednesday and sought rooms as per their bookings made online. But when the employee on duty checked the list of online bookings, their names were not there. The two showed their mobile phones and payments of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, respectively, made through online wallets. When the employee called on the given number, it was found to be fake. He said they found a fake website for bookings at the sarai. After this, a complaint was lodged with the police.

A case under Section 420 of the IPC and Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act was registered on the complaint of SGPC authorities against unidentified persons.

Golden Temple manager Sulkhan Singh told the police that Sanjay Arora of Delhi and Shival Singla of Haryana came to Saragarhi Niwas on Wednesday and sought rooms as per their bookings made online. But when the employee on duty checked the list of online bookings, their names were not there. The two showed their mobile phones and payments of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, respectively, made through online wallets. When the employee called on the given mobile number, it was found to be a wrong number.

He said when checked, they found a fake website for bookings at the sarai. After this, a complaint was lodged with the police.

Sukhjinder Singh, SHO, Division E police station, said the matter was under investigation. The cybercrime unit was also probing the incident.

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#cyber crime #Golden Temple Amritsar #SGPC #Sikhs