Hyderabad: Police in Hyderabad arrested multiple suspects in a fake spiritual ritual racket that promised to “produce gold” using rare Himalayan herbs. Investigators traced the operation to Nagpur, Maharashtra, and linked it to several ayurvedic outlets in the city.
Third suspect in custody
Banjara Hills police had earlier caught two suspects. They later took another accused, Pankaj, into custody for questioning. The case began when Ratlawat Gopalsingh, a daily wage worker from NBT Nagar, met four men in swami attire near the ACB office in MLA Colony last month. They told him he was in distress and could gain gold through rituals with ash made from rare Himalayan herbs. They claimed the herbs came from the Gadwal Ayurvedic Centre in Nizampet.
The victim paid ₹10 lakh for fake gold
Gopalsingh, convinced and joined by acquaintances, paid about ₹10 lakh in several transactions. The rituals lasted a month. The group later handed him fake gold biscuits — iron pieces coated with gold paint. They instructed him to keep them in red cloth for a week so they would “transform” into 2 kg of gold. When they demanded another ₹7 lakh, he grew suspicious and realised it was a scam.
Two more arrests and a ₹2 crore racket
After his complaint, police arrested Sudheer Kumar Singh and Sagar from the Nizampet ayurvedic shop. They also uncovered a similar setup at the Mahalakshmi Ayurvedic Centre in Nagole and detained employee Mahesh.
Police believe the racket’s kingpin, trader Sahadev, operates from Nagpur. They say he runs multiple ayurvedic shops in Hyderabad. Staff sell herbal products and “ritual ash,” while swami-dressed associates lure victims. Officers allege that Pankaj collects proceeds from the outlets. They estimate the Nizampet and Nagole centres earn more than ₹2 crore each month.
Search for the kingpin continues
Police are searching for Sahadev and other swami impersonators suspected of defrauding several people in Hyderabad. Gopalsingh and his family have urged police to arrest all gang members and recover their money.
