Bhubaneswar: As many as 11 men were arrested in Puri in the past five days for allegedly extorting devotees and duping them with false promises of hassle‑free darshan at the Jagannath Temple, Puri SP Prateek Singh said on Friday. Police said the accused misled the unsuspecting pilgrims by demanding money in exchange for quick access to the shrine, bypassing queues and security checks.“We have arrested 11 men in the last five days, with five on Thursday and three on Friday. They posed as assistants and guides of servitors, luring devotees with claims of special darshan for a fee,” Singh told reporters.The accused, hailing from different parts of Puri district, were charging between Rs 200 and Rs 500 per devotee. “We appeal to devotees to avoid such fraudsters and strictly follow official protocols for darshan. Darshan in the temple is completely free,” Singh added.According to police sources, some impostors even dressed like genuine servitors to deceive visitors, particularly those from West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. “In several cases, they took money and disappeared into the crowd, leaving victims waiting for hours,” another police officer said.Complaints from devotees revealed that refusal to pay often led to verbal abuse and intimidation. The accused operated in groups outside the temple, near bus stands, railway stations and along Grand Road, coercing pilgrims into availing their services.Police officials stressed that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to safeguard the sanctity of the shrine and protect devotees from exploitation. “We will continue to act firmly against anyone attempting to exploit faith for profit,” Singh added.Servitors said the problem has worsened after the reopening of all four temple gates of the shrine in June 2024. “The rush has multiplied, queues stretch for hours and fraudsters are exploiting the hardship. Fake servitors are cashing in on the crisis. The administration should address the issue and streamline the darshan system for the convenience of devotees,” Shayma Mohapatra, a servitor, said.
